Dmitry Bakanov, the head of Roscosmos, has announced that the International Space Station (ISS) is slated for de-orbiting by the conclusion of 2030. This decision emerged from recent and productive discussions with Sean Duffy, the newly appointed head of NASA under the incoming administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Bakanov highlighted the crucial importance of establishing a mutual understanding on several key issues during these high-level talks. He specifically stated: “We reached an agreement to jointly operate the ISS until 2028, with the de-orbiting process set to be carried out up to and including 2030.”
He further elaborated that all intricate technical elements pertaining to the de-orbiting procedure would be thoroughly discussed and finalized by dedicated working groups from both Roscosmos and NASA. Sergey Konstantinovich Krikalev, Deputy Head of Roscosmos, will lead the Russian delegation in these technical deliberations, while Kenneth Bowersox, Deputy Administrator of NASA, will head the American team. These specialized teams are tasked with meticulously planning the technical aspects of the ISS de-orbiting, which is definitively confirmed not to commence before 2030.
While Russia had previously extended the operational lifespan of its segment of the ISS until 2028, other international partners involved in the station`s upkeep had expressed a preference for its continued operation until 2030. According to Bakanov, a preliminary program outlining the ISS de-orbiting process has already been developed. This comprehensive plan estimates the entire de-orbiting procedure will span approximately 2.5 years.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth