Roscosmos has confirmed that all international space agency partners have formally approved the planned configuration for the controlled shutdown of the International Space Station. The joint plan involves two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and a specialized U.S. Deorbit Vehicle to oversee atmospheric re-entry operations. This agreement carefully distributes essential propulsion and navigation responsibilities between Russia and the United States, marking the end of decades of collaborative station management under a unified safety framework.
According to Roscosmos, the station’s descent from orbit is scheduled to commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process anticipated to span approximately two years. The approach will leverage natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude adjustments via existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s transition framework states that crew members will return to Earth before operators initiate the final burn, which aims to direct remaining debris into a remote ocean region and minimize risks to people and property, rather than allowing an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the conclusion of operations.
Additionally, Russia and the United States intend to develop a bilateral agreement to clarify responsibilities during the deorbit process. NASA describes the safe disposal of the station as a shared duty among the five agencies operating it: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the program will define the vehicle configuration, the bilateral agreement will specify operational roles and responsibilities for Roscosmos and NASA throughout the multi-stage re-entry process. Under NASA’s published sequence, no crew members will remain aboard for the final re-entry burn.
NASA Sets $1.2 Billion Cost for Deorbit Vehicle
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, after analyses revealed that existing station propulsion and Progress spacecraft alone lacked sufficient margin for the planned controlled re-entry. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report released in July 2026 states that NASA established a project cost baseline of $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes an $843 million contract with SpaceX, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle is scheduled to be ready for delivery by October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. deorbit craft combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, equipped for rendezvous and docking, with an enlarged trunk that carries the necessary propulsion system for descent. According to the GAO, design modifications have included upgrades to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array configuration. The vehicle will dock with the station roughly 18 months before re-entry and stay attached until the final phase. NASA will own and operate the spacecraft, while the agency’s Launch Services Program will separately procure the rocket needed to reach the station and orbit.
Enhanced Propulsion in Modified Dragon Vehicle
Since its assembly began in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000. Weighing approximately 430,000 kilograms and spanning roughly a football field, the station orbits at about 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide reboosts, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation during normal operations. These interdependencies underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring close coordination among participating agencies.
NASA’s current timeline prioritizes retiring the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicates that the agency plans to evaluate in 2027 whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations. Structural analyses support continuing operations through 2028, with further reviews to address the period afterward. Under the multinational deorbit plan disclosed by Roscosmos, orbital lowering begins in 2028 and continues for about two years, ending in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.
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