Roscosmos has declared that all international space agency collaborators have officially approved the configuration for the controlled decommissioning of the International Space Station. The joint strategy involves the use of two Russian Progress cargo ships and a specialized U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to oversee atmospheric re-entry procedures. This operational framework evenly distributes vital propulsion and navigation responsibilities between Russia and the United States, marking the end of decades of joint station operations under a unified safety protocol.
According to Roscosmos, the station’s planned descent will commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process projected to last around two years. The approach combines natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reduction through existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition plan indicates that the crew will return to Earth prior to the execution of the final burn. The maneuver aims to guide any remaining debris into an uninhabited ocean area, minimizing risks to individuals and property, rather than risking an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of operations.
Additionally, Russia and the United States intend to develop a bilateral agreement that will specify the responsibilities of Roscosmos and NASA during the decommissioning process. NASA describes the safe disposal of the station as a collective duty shared among the five agencies operating it: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the vehicle combination has been established, the forthcoming bilateral document will detail operational accountability between Russian and U.S. agencies across the multi-stage deorbiting procedure. Under NASA’s decommissioning plan, no crew will be aboard during the final re-entry burn.
NASA Assigns $1.2 Billion Budget for Vehicle Development
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after assessments revealed that the current station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone did not possess enough margin for the controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, published in July 2026, states that NASA set the project’s cost baseline at $1.2 billion in February. This amount covers the reported $843 million contract with SpaceX, procurement of future launch vehicles, and NASA workforce expenses necessary to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle is scheduled for delivery readiness by October 2028, with the launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, adapted for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that provides the propulsion system needed for descent. Design modifications include updates to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array configuration, according to the GAO. The vehicle is expected to dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and will remain attached through the final phase. NASA will retain ownership and operational control, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will separately handle the procurement of the rocket required to place it into orbit and reach the station.
Enhanced Propulsion from Modified Dragon Vehicle
The International Space Station, initiated in 1998, has maintained human occupancy since November 2000. The complex weighs approximately 430,000 kilograms, spans an area comparable to a football field, and orbits at roughly 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress craft provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation. These interdependent systems form the foundation of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring careful coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current transition plan emphasizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report notes NASA’s intention to evaluate in 2027 whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations. Agency analyses support the possibility of continuing operations through 2028, with additional reviews considering the period afterward. As per the multinational deorbit program disclosed by Roscosmos, orbital lowering will begin in 2028, continuing for about two years and concluding with a controlled re-entry designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.