NASA will say goodbye to the International Space Station in 2030 − and welcome in the age of commercial space stations
In 2030, the International Space Station will be deorbited: driven into a remote area of the Pacific Ocean.
www.space.comHere’s what’s happening with the ISS decommission as of mid-2026, based on the latest public reporting.
Direct answer
- NASA and partner agencies are planning the safe deorbit of the International Space Station (ISS) around 2030, with a shift toward commercially operated habitats in low Earth orbit to take over research and activities afterward.
Key context and latest details
- The official deorbit plan envisions retiring the ISS in the late 2020s to early 2030s, followed by controlled reentry of the remaining structure into a remote area of the Pacific Ocean. This plan is part of a broader transition toward commercially operated space stations that could host research and industrial activities in low Earth orbit.[2][6][8]
- Russia’s participation and the health of its propulsion and attitude-control systems remain critical to the deorbit timeline. Observers flag that any disruption in cooperation could affect the precise end-of-life schedule, potentially delaying the final deorbit window or altering contingencies.[1]
- NASA has been developing a dedicated US Deorbit Vehicle to perform the final, safe deorbit burn, emphasizing a high-assurance end-of-life maneuver for the station.[4][7]
What to watch next
- Year-by-year milestones: mid-2028 to mid-2029 is cited as the initial descent phase in some planning documents, with the final uncrewed deorbit sequence anticipated around 2030–2031 depending on international cooperation and hardware readiness.[3][1]
- Commercial successors: NASA and international partners expect commercially operated stations to proliferate in LEO, potentially occupying the research and technology demonstration roles once the ISS retires.[6][8]
Illustrative note
- A practical way to think about the transition: the ISS era ends with a carefully choreographed deorbit to minimize risks and debris, while a new era begins with private sector habitats that could host science, manufacturing, and astronaut presence in orbit.[8][6]
Citations
- NASA deorbit planning and timelines, including end-of-life strategy and the deorbit vehicle concept.[7][4]
- Accounts of the planned deorbit target around 2030 and related governance/participation factors (e.g., Russia/partner cooperation).[1][3]
- Reports on the shift toward commercially operated space stations to succeed the ISS in LEO.[6][8]