As of October 14, 2025, the International Space Station (ISS) continues its record of over a quarter-century of continuous human presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO). This landmark international collaboration has served as a vital platform for scientific breakthroughs across biotechnology, materials science, and astronomical observation. However, the station’s operational lifespan is drawing to a close, with its retirement phase officially scheduled to begin in 2030.
NASA has established a definitive plan for the ISS's final maneuvers, emphasizing orbital stewardship. The agency is currently contracting with key U.S. industry partners to procure the specialized spacecraft necessary for a safe, controlled deorbit. This deliberate process is engineered to ensure that any surviving debris descends harmlessly into a designated, unpopulated sector of the South Pacific Ocean, often referred to as the "spacecraft cemetery." The controlled reentry itself is slated to commence in January 2031, following the initiation of deorbiting procedures in the preceding year.
This planned conclusion is framed as a strategic pivot rather than a cessation of activity, ensuring an uninterrupted stream of LEO research and habitation. NASA is actively fostering the ecosystem for commercially owned and operated space stations to take over this role. The agency has awarded foundational contracts to pioneering entities, including Axiom Space, Blue Origin, Nanoracks, and Northrop Grumman, tasking them with designing and constructing the next generation of orbital outposts.
This reliance on private sector innovation is central to the strategy for unlocking future accessibility and sustainability in LEO, allowing NASA to transition its focus toward deep space exploration, including Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars. The ISS’s legacy of international cooperation is now being mirrored in the commercial sphere, where diverse entities are empowered to build upon that foundation. The successful execution of this handover is intended to secure a continuous human presence in orbit through these burgeoning commercial avenues.