Roscosmos has announced that all international space agency partners have officially approved the planned configuration for the controlled shutdown of the International Space Station. According to the coordinated strategy, two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft and a specialized U.S. Deorbit Vehicle will oversee the re-entry process into Earth’s atmosphere. The agreement ensures critical propulsion and navigation responsibilities are shared between Russia and the United States, marking the end of decades of joint station operations under a common safety framework.
Roscosmos indicated that the ISS’s orbital descent is scheduled to commence in 2028, with the entire deorbit process anticipated to take roughly two years. The procedure will integrate natural atmospheric drag, intentional altitude reductions via existing propulsion systems, and a final precise re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition plan specifies that crew members will return to Earth prior to the execution of the final burn. This maneuver aims to direct any remaining debris into an unpopulated ocean area, minimizing risks to people and property, rather than permitting an uncontrolled descent at the end of the station’s operational life.
Additionally, Russia and the United States intend to develop a bilateral agreement clarifying the division of responsibilities during the station’s deorbit. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a shared duty among the five agencies operating the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the current vehicle combination has been established, the upcoming bilateral document will define operational accountability for both agencies throughout the multi-stage deorbit process. Under NASA’s published plan, no crew will be onboard during the final re-entry burn.
NASA Establishes $1.2 Billion Funding Baseline for U.S. Deorbit Vehicle
In June 2024, NASA contracted SpaceX to develop and supply the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after assessments revealed that the current station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft did not have enough margin for the controlled re-entry. A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office, published in July 2026, noted that NASA set the project’s budget at $1.2 billion in February. This includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future costs for launch vehicle procurement, and NASA’s expenses for certifying the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The vehicle is expected to be ready for delivery by October 2028, with launch scheduled for mid-2029.
The U.S.-built vehicle combines a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft capable of rendezvous and docking with an enlarged trunk housing the necessary propulsion systems for descent. Modifications to the Dragon’s power system, added shielding, and adjustments to the solar-array configuration in the trunk are part of the design work, according to the GAO. The spacecraft is planned to dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate it, while its Launch Services Program will handle procuring the rocket needed for launch and rendezvous with the station.
Enhanced Propulsion through Modified Dragon Vehicle
The International Space Station, assembled beginning in 1998, has maintained continuous human occupancy since November 2000. With a mass of approximately 430,000 kilograms, it spans an area roughly comparable to a football field and orbits at about 415 kilometers in low Earth orbit. Its systems are interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress vehicles provide reboosts, debris-avoidance maneuvers, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes manage routine orientation. These interdependent systems underpin the joint architecture outlined in the ISS deorbit plan, requiring close coordination among participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule aims to decommission the station and execute re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report stated 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 operation through 2028, with further reviews planned to address subsequent years. As part of the multinational program disclosed by Roscosmos, the orbital lowering will begin in 2028 and extend over about two years, culminating in a controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.
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