The planned controlled deorbit of the International Space Station (ISS) has received formal backing from all participating international space agencies, with a two-year timeline set for its atmospheric re-entry, according to Roscosmos. The process will be overseen by two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and a dedicated U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, which will execute the final re-entry maneuvers. This agreement marks the culmination of decades of joint station operations, with both Russia and the United States sharing critical propulsion and guidance responsibilities under an integrated safety protocol.
Roscosmos announced that the ISS’s orbital descent is scheduled to begin in 2028, with the entire deorbit process expected to span approximately two years. The approach will combine natural atmospheric drag, active altitude reductions using existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. According to NASA’s published transition plan, crew members will return to Earth before the large final burn is initiated, ensuring that debris is directed into an unpopulated ocean area. This method aims to minimize risks to people and property by avoiding an uncontrolled descent from low Earth orbit at the end of the station’s operational life.
Additionally, Russia and the United States are working on a bilateral agreement that will outline responsibilities during the deorbit process. NASA describes safe disposal as a shared duty among the five agencies involved in operating the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the current program specifies the combination of vehicles needed for the process, the bilateral agreement will clarify operational accountability between Roscosmos and NASA throughout each stage. Under NASA’s published sequence, no crew will stay aboard during the final re-entry burn.
NASA Sets $1.2 Billion Budget for Deorbit Vehicle Development
In June 2024, NASA awarded SpaceX the contract to design and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after analyses revealed that existing station propulsion and Progress spacecraft lacked sufficient margin for controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, published in July 2026, states that NASA established a project cost baseline of $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the $843 million contract awarded to SpaceX, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA’s workforce expenses necessary for spacecraft certification and station docking operations. The vehicle is scheduled to be ready for launch by October 2028, with a planned launch date in mid-2029.
The U.S. Deorbit Vehicle integrates a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, fitted for rendezvous and docking with the station, along with an enlarged trunk capable of carrying the propulsion system required for descent. Modifications to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and updates to the trunk’s solar-array configuration have been part of the design process, according to the GAO. The spacecraft will dock with the ISS approximately 18 months before re-entry and remain attached through the final maneuver. NASA will retain ownership and operation of the vehicle, while its Launch Services Program will handle procuring the rocket needed to place it in orbit and reach the station.
Enhanced Dragon Vehicle Incorporates Additional Propulsion Capabilities
Since its first assembly in 1998, the International Space Station has maintained a continuous human presence, with operations ongoing since November 2000. The station weighs about 430,000 kilograms, spans an area roughly equal to a football field, and orbits at an altitude of approximately 415 kilometers. Its systems are interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation during normal operations. These relationships form the basis of the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan and necessitate precise coordination among the participating agencies.
NASA’s current plan aims to retire the station and perform re-entry procedures by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report notes that NASA is considering whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or to extend station operations beyond 2028. The agency’s analysis supports continuing operations through 2028, with further reviews planned for the period after that. As part of the multinational deorbit program disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering process will commence in 2028 and last approximately two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris into a remote ocean area.