ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission: India Becomes 4th Country to Achieve Space Docking
ISRO's SpaDeX Mission: India Becomes 4th Country to Achieve Space Docking
India has joined the ranks of Russia, the USA, and China as the fourth nation to master the art of docking.
The Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO achieved a significant milestone on Thursday morning by successfully docking two Indian satellites in space. This accomplishment is part of the Space Docking Experiment, known as SpaDeX. Remarkably, this marks the fourth attempt by Indian scientists to achieve this goal, and they have finally hit the mark.
Docking is an intricate procedure that involves maneuvering satellites to create what ISRO refers to as an “exciting handshake” between the two spacecraft in orbit.
The SpaDeX mission took flight on December 30, with the satellites SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) being launched aboard a PSLV C60 rocket and positioned into a circular orbit at an altitude of 475 kilometers.
India used the indigenously developed Bhartiya Docking System to achieve this feat just before docking the satellites moved closer to each other at a speed of 10 millimeters per second.
“Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment. Let’s walk through the SpaDeX docking process: Manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed. Docking initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture. Retraction completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability. Docking successfully completed. India became the 4th country to achieve successful Space Docking. Congratulations to the entire team! Congratulations to India,” ISRO posted on X, declaring the successful docking.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to congratulate, “ Congratulations to our scientists at @ISRO and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.”
Check out the tweet
Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2025
The significant event occurred shortly after the space agency, on January 12, maneuvered the two spacecraft to a distance of three meters before repositioning them to a secure distance during its preliminary docking test.
“A trial attempt to reach up to 15 m and further to 3 m is done. Moving back space crafts to a safe distance. The docking process will be done after analysing data further,” ISRO had informed on January 12 regarding the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission.
Two Indian satellites successfully approached within three meters during a trial for space docking and are now retreating, according to a statement from the Indian space agency this morning.
ISRO stated that this technology is “crucial” for India’s lunar mission, following Prime Minister Modi’s announcement last year regarding the intention to launch a crewed mission to the Moon by 2040.
