What will happen to the International Space Station in 2030?

The original plan was for the Space Station to be used for about 15 years. More than a decade beyond that, the outpost faces structural issues that risk its mission and could drive up maintenance costs.

In 2030, the International Space Station will be deorbited — driven into a remote area of the Pacific Ocean, marking the end of one of humanity's greatest achievements in international cooperation.

NASA announced SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle — the spacecraft responsible for guiding the station's safe and controlled descent after the end of its operational life.

The ISS will gradually descend as natural atmospheric drag lowers its orbit. Engineers on the ground will monitor and control this process, performing reboosts and adjustments to ensure stability for the final manoeuvre.

The United States, Japan, Canada, and the participating countries of ESA have committed to operating the station through 2030. Russia has committed to continued station operations through at least 2028.

NASA has awarded over $400 million to develop commercial space stations, with Phase 2 partnerships announced in September 2025 to ensure a seamless transition before the ISS retires.

NASA announced commercial space station development awards to Blue Origin's Orbital Reef, Axiom Space's Axiom Station, and Nanoracks' StarLab — all racing to be ready before the ISS comes down.

Over 4,000 experiments have been conducted aboard the ISS, generating more than 4,400 research publications — making it the longest-duration space station program in human history.