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SpaDeX is not merely a technological demonstration but a foundational step for India’s ambitious space programs
In a historic achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the successful docking of two satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) on Thursday (January 16, 2025). This places India in an elite club of nations having this capability, the other three being the US, Russia, and China.
This was India’s first attempt to develop and demonstrate autonomous in-space docking technology. This capability is crucial for future missions requiring multiple spacecraft to operate collaboratively in orbit, such as interplanetary expeditions and the construction of India’s proposed space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
ISRO used the indigenously developed Bhartiya Docking System to achieve this feat as the two satellites moved closer to each other at a speed of about 10 millimeters per second.
Historic Moment, Says ISRO
ISRO has been providing regular updates on the status of the SpaDeX mission since its launch a little over a fortnight ago. It announced the successful docking early on Thursday morning.
“SpaDeX Docking Update:
Docking Success
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 announced on social media platforms, including X.
“SpaDeX Docking Update:
Post docking, control of two satellites as a single object is successful.
Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days,” ISRO said in a subsequent X post.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on the achievement.
“India’s space programme achieves historic milestone with the successful docking of the two satellites launched under Space Docking Experiment, SpaDeX! India is the fourth nation to have demonstrated space docking capability. This achievement paves the way for India's future endeavours in space exploration such as Chandrayaan-4, India's planned space station and Gaganyaan. Congratulations to ISRO and the entire scientists and engineers communities of the country for boosting India’s space capabilities,” President Murmu said on X.
Prime Minister Modi described it as a significant stepping stone for India’s future space missions. “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,” he posted on X.
A Series of Complex Manoeuvres
The PSLV-C60 rocket, carrying the pioneering Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), was launched on December 30, 2024 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The SpaDeX mission involved deploying two specially designed satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), weighing approximately 220 kg each. These satellites were placed in a low-Earth circular orbit. Following deployment, SDX01 and SDX02 initially drifted apart to a distance of 10-15 kilometers. After this drift, onboard systems underwent thorough health checks and a series of complex maneuvers
On January 12, ISRO brought the two spacecraft to a distance of three metres and then moved them back to a safe distance in its trial attempt to dock the satellites.
SpaDeX is not merely a technological demonstration but a foundational step for India’s ambitious space programs.
The ability to autonomously dock spacecraft has wide-ranging implications, including:
Human Spaceflight: Essential for assembling and resupplying modules in space.
Lunar Missions: Integral to planned lunar sample retrieval missions and potential lunar habitats.
Space Station Development: A cornerstone technology for building and maintaining the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
This was India’s first attempt to develop and demonstrate autonomous in-space docking technology. This capability is crucial for future missions requiring multiple spacecraft to operate collaboratively in orbit, such as interplanetary expeditions and the construction of India’s proposed space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
ISRO used the indigenously developed Bhartiya Docking System to achieve this feat as the two satellites moved closer to each other at a speed of about 10 millimeters per second.
Historic Moment, Says ISRO
ISRO has been providing regular updates on the status of the SpaDeX mission since its launch a little over a fortnight ago. It announced the successful docking early on Thursday morning.
“SpaDeX Docking Update:
Docking Success
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 announced on social media platforms, including X.
“SpaDeX Docking Update:
Post docking, control of two satellites as a single object is successful.
Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days,” ISRO said in a subsequent X post.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO on the achievement.
“India’s space programme achieves historic milestone with the successful docking of the two satellites launched under Space Docking Experiment, SpaDeX! India is the fourth nation to have demonstrated space docking capability. This achievement paves the way for India's future endeavours in space exploration such as Chandrayaan-4, India's planned space station and Gaganyaan. Congratulations to ISRO and the entire scientists and engineers communities of the country for boosting India’s space capabilities,” President Murmu said on X.
Prime Minister Modi described it as a significant stepping stone for India’s future space missions. “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,” he posted on X.
A Series of Complex Manoeuvres
The PSLV-C60 rocket, carrying the pioneering Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), was launched on December 30, 2024 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The SpaDeX mission involved deploying two specially designed satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), weighing approximately 220 kg each. These satellites were placed in a low-Earth circular orbit. Following deployment, SDX01 and SDX02 initially drifted apart to a distance of 10-15 kilometers. After this drift, onboard systems underwent thorough health checks and a series of complex maneuvers
On January 12, ISRO brought the two spacecraft to a distance of three metres and then moved them back to a safe distance in its trial attempt to dock the satellites.
SpaDeX is not merely a technological demonstration but a foundational step for India’s ambitious space programs.
The ability to autonomously dock spacecraft has wide-ranging implications, including:
Human Spaceflight: Essential for assembling and resupplying modules in space.
Lunar Missions: Integral to planned lunar sample retrieval missions and potential lunar habitats.
Space Station Development: A cornerstone technology for building and maintaining the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
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