MOSCOW, Russia / Rank Wire / – Since its inception in 1998, the International Space Station has served as a cornerstone of international collaboration in space exploration. With a mass of approximately 430,000 kilograms and spanning roughly the size of a football field, the station has maintained continuous human presence since November 2000 in low Earth orbit at about 415 kilometers altitude. Its complex systems are intricately linked: the Russian segment and Progress spacecraft provide essential propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude adjustments, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine station orientation. These interdependencies underpin the joint architecture outlined in the upcoming ISS deorbit plan and demand meticulous coordination among participating agencies.
Recently, Russia’s state space agency Roscosmos confirmed that international partners have endorsed a coordinated plan to guide the International Space Station (ISS) through a controlled re-entry. This plan involves two Russian Progress cargo spacecraft working in conjunction with the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle, which is constructed by SpaceX. The joint effort establishes shared propulsion and navigation protocols between Roscosmos and NASA, reinforcing the international partnership to ensure the safe deorbiting of the station.
The process of lowering the station’s orbit is scheduled to commence in 2028 and is projected to span around two years. Roscosmos explained that the deorbit sequence will incorporate natural atmospheric drag, deliberate altitude reductions utilizing existing propulsion systems, and a final targeted re-entry maneuver. NASA’s published transition plan indicates that the crew will leave the station before the final burn is executed. This maneuver aims to direct residual debris into a remote ocean region, minimizing risks to people and property, rather than allowing the station to make an uncontrolled descent at the end of its operational life.
Additionally, Russia and the United States intend to develop a bilateral agreement specifying how responsibilities will be divided during this operation. NASA emphasizes that safe disposal is a shared responsibility among the five agencies managing the station: NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. While the program defines the vehicle combination, the forthcoming bilateral agreement will detail operational accountability for Roscosmos and NASA throughout the multiple phases of station deorbiting. According to NASA’s published sequence, no crew will remain aboard during the final re-entry burn.
Russia and US Collaborate on Deorbit Strategy for the Station
In June 2024, NASA selected SpaceX to develop and deliver the uncrewed U.S. Deorbit Vehicle after analyses revealed that the existing station propulsion systems and Progress spacecraft alone lacked sufficient margin for a controlled re-entry. An assessment by the U.S. Government Accountability Office released in July 2026 reported that NASA had established a cost baseline of $1.2 billion in February. This figure includes the reported $843 million SpaceX contract, future launch vehicle procurement, and NASA workforce expenses to certify the spacecraft for docking and station operations. The planned readiness for delivery is October 2028, with a launch targeted for mid-2029.
The U.S. vehicle integrates a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft equipped for rendezvous and docking, along with a larger trunk that provides the necessary propulsion for descent. According to the GAO, design modifications have included updates to the Dragon’s power system, additional shielding, and adjustments to the trunk’s solar-array configuration. The plan is for the spacecraft to dock with the station approximately 18 months before re-entry and stay attached through the final phase. NASA will own and operate the vehicle, while its Launch Services Program will separately secure the rocket needed to place it in orbit and reach the station.
Crew Evacuates Before Final Deorbit Burn
The International Space Station has been continuously inhabited since November 2000, with assembly beginning in 1998. It has a mass of roughly 430,000 kilograms, covers an area comparable to a football field, and orbits at about 415 kilometers above Earth. The station’s systems are highly interconnected: the Russian segment and Progress spacecraft provide propulsion for reboosts, debris avoidance, and attitude control, while U.S. gyroscopes handle routine orientation. These relationships form the backbone of the joint deorbit plan, which requires careful coordination among all participating agencies.
NASA’s current schedule prioritizes decommissioning the station and executing re-entry maneuvers by 2030. A June 2026 GAO report indicated that NASA is considering a 2027 review to decide whether to launch the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle in 2029 or extend station operations. The agency’s analyses support operational continuity through 2028, with further assessments addressing beyond that date. Under the multinational deorbit plan disclosed by Roscosmos, orbital lowering will start in 2028 and last about two years, ending with a carefully controlled atmospheric breakup designed to deposit debris in a remote ocean area.