The International Space Station (ISS) is expected to remain operational until at least 2030, extending beyond its current U.S.-Russia agreement ending in 2028.
Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Bakanov stated Monday that any decision to retire the station requires joint approval by both nations.
“The consolidated decision of Roscosmos and NASA is that the station is needed at least until 2028, and most likely… until 2030,” Bakanov confirmed in an interview with Russia’s RBC TV.
Launched in 1998, the ISS operates as a multinational collaboration involving Russia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and 10 European Space Agency member states.
The station’s structure weighs approximately 435 tons, expanding to 470 tons when docked with spacecraft.
The potential extension underscores ongoing international commitment to space research despite geopolitical tensions, preserving critical scientific capabilities in low Earth orbit.
