The key facts
- Dmitry Bakanov said the ISS could be deorbited in 2031 or 2032
- The timeline shifted after the American side asked to extend the station's operation until 2030
- The final dates for deorbiting the station are still being discussed
The timeline was shifted at the United States' request
The International Space Station may be deorbited into the ocean in 2031 or 2032 — later than the originally planned date. Roscosmos head Dmitry Bakanov told journalists about this on the sidelines of the Russia–Africa forum. According to him, the schedule changed after the American side made a request: “Right now they have asked us to move [the end of the station's operation] from 2028 to 2030, and then the deorbiting would be in 2031 or 2032,” — Life.ru quotes the head of the state corporation as saying.
What has been agreed and what has not
Earlier, Russia and the United States agreed to continue joint operations on the ISS until 2030 instead of the previous 2028 horizon. However, the final dates for deorbiting the station are still under discussion: the partners have yet to agree on the technical details of ending its operation. Thus, the extension of operations until 2030 is a decision that has been made, whereas the specific year of deorbiting remains a subject of discussion, and the 2031–2032 dates mentioned by Bakanov should be seen as a possible, rather than an approved, scenario.
