Claim: The United States is planning to retire the International Space Station (ISS) before 2030, significantly reducing operations and cutting NASA’s budget, with full support from Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
What’s True
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The US plans to transition away from the ISS by 2030:
NASA has confirmed that it aims to safely deorbit the ISS around 2030. This was publicly stated in NASA’s 2022 transition plan and reaffirmed in White House budget documents. -
The FY 2026 Budget includes continued funding for ISS transition:
The Biden administration’s budget proposal supports transitioning to commercial platforms in low Earth orbit (LEO). This includes replacing the ISS with privately owned space stations. -
The ISS began in 1998 as a multilateral international project:
Correct. The article accurately notes that Russia’s Zarya module and NASA’s Unity module were foundational to the station’s construction.
What’s Misleading or False
1. Claiming a major budget cut under a Trump-aligned narrative
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Reality: The budget cuts cited are from a proposed 2026 budget under the Biden administration, not Donald Trump.
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False Attribution: The article falsely states that the Trump administration made these decisions and backs the cuts. In reality, Trump left office in January 2021. The 2026 budget is not connected to his policies.
2. Overstating the end of operations
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Framing Trick: The article implies that the US is abandoning space science by focusing on the ISS shutdown.
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Truth: NASA is shifting its resources toward Moon (Artemis) and Mars missions, and investing in commercial LEO development, not “winding down” space ambitions.
3. Exaggerating Elon Musk’s involvement
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While Elon Musk and SpaceX play a vital role in commercial launches, there is no official White House document stating that the ISS transition is “strongly backed by Elon Musk.” His mention in this context is speculative and propagandistic.
Propaganda & Framing Techniques Used
Framing the ISS transition as a “collapse” of U.S. space leadership
By selectively quoting budget reductions and emphasizing the “end” of the ISS, the article attempts to frame the U.S. space program as declining, rather than evolving.
Politicization through Trump & Musk references
Linking NASA’s plans to Trump and Musk frames the decision in a partisan or corporate light, which can evoke distrust or bias in Russian or international audiences.
Russian victim narrative
By noting that Russia was the “first to launch” and that Roscosmos is being excluded or sidelined, the piece positions Russia as a neglected contributor to space science.
What Is Actually Happening?
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NASA plans a strategic shift from government-run operations to a commercial model in LEO. This includes supporting companies like Axiom Space, Blue Origin, and others to build commercial space stations.
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The ISS is aging and requires costly maintenance. Ending ISS operations around 2030 is a mutual understanding among partner agencies.
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Russia’s own exit plans from the ISS remain unclear. While Roscosmos has announced intentions to leave and build the Russian Orbital Station (ROS), it continues participating as of 2025.
A Shift, Not a Shutdown
The Russian TV article uses a mix of partial facts, out-of-date political references, and nationalistic framing to portray the ISS transition as a U.S. retreat from space leadership. In reality, the U.S. is moving toward a commercial future in orbit, with international and private collaboration at its core.
