NASA Selects International Space Station US Deorbit Vehicle
NASA is fostering continued scientific, educational, and technological developments in low Earth orbit to benefit humanity, while also supporting deep space
www.nasa.govHere’s a concise update on the latest about the International Space Station (ISS) decommission plans.
Answer
- NASA and international partners are pursuing a structured retirement of the ISS with a targeted end-of-operations by 2030 and a controlled deorbit in 2031, subject to ongoing collaboration and program milestones.[5][6]
Key points
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Timeline and deorbit plan
- The U.S. and partner agencies have committed to winding down ISS operations by the end of 2030, followed by a controlled reentry and deorbit in 2031, using a dedicated deorbit vehicle to ensure a safe splashdown in the remote Pacific Ocean.[4][5]
- NASA has been developing a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle (USDV) to perform the final, controlled deorbit maneuver, with testing and integration planned alongside crew handovers and transition activities.[9][5]
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Transition to commercial and international partners
- NASA’s transition plan envisions shifting low-Earth orbit activities to commercial destinations and partner-enabled platforms, while preserving opportunities for scientific research and technology demonstrations through the 2020s, with commercial and international partners playing roles in a stepped retirement process.[6][5]
- Private-sector stations (e.g., modules and habitats from Axiom, Voyager/ESA, Blue Origin/Sierra Space, and others) are anticipated to become successors or replacements in LEO, enabling NASA to focus on deep-space goals while maintaining access to microgravity research.[6]
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Current status as of 2026
- The baseline plan remains a methodical retirement by 2030–2031, with no public indications of accelerated scrapping or an abridged timeline, though budget, geopolitics, and contractor progress could affect detailed milestones. NASA continues to coordinate with international partners (ESA, JAXA, CSA) and maintains involvement with Roscosmos through transitional arrangements, though timelines may shift based on political and technical factors.[4][5][9]
What this means for stakeholders
- Researchers: Expect a gradual transition of ISS-enabled research to commercial LEO platforms or partner facilities through 2030, with opportunities to collaborate on visiting missions or data-sharing arrangements during the transition.[5][6]
- Industries: Increased activity around development of USDV concepts, deorbit operations, and commercial station proposals to fill the post-2030 landscape in low-Earth orbit.[5][6]
- Policy: Ongoing intergovernmental coordination remains essential, as the decommission depends on sustaining critical capabilities and ensuring safe disposal while preserving access to space for science and exploration.[9][5]
Illustration
- A high-level retirement flow: continued ISS operations through 2030 → crew restoration and transition activities → USDV final deorbit maneuver in 2031 → post-ISS LEO ecosystem with commercial partners and new stations.
Citations
- NASA and partner plans for end-of-life by 2030 and controlled deorbit in 2031.[4]
- NASA’s development of a U.S. Deorbit Vehicle and related transition plans.[9][5]
- Transition to commercial and international partnerships in LEO and the role of future stations.[6]