India Achieves Fourth Space Docking Milestone as ISRO Completes SpaDeX Mission with Two Satellites
New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission on Thursday, marking a significant achievement in spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking capabilities. This milestone propels India to become the fourth nation globally to accomplish this feat.
The ISRO-orchestrated exercise involved two small satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), which were launched on December 30, 2024, by the PSLV-C60 rocket and placed in a 475-km circular orbit. The objective of the SpaDeX mission is to test critical technologies vital for future space missions, including Moon landings, sample returns, and establishing an Indian space station.
The satellite docking procedure involved the Chaser navigating towards the Target satellite, reaching a hold point at three meters before successfully docking under precise control, followed by retraction and stabilisation. Post-docking, ISRO confirmed that both satellites operated as a single unit with further operations planned, including undocking and power transfer checks in the coming days.
According to ISRO officials, the primary objectives of the SpaDeX mission include validating technologies critical for advanced space missions. The satellites' ability to transfer electrical power between docked spacecraft is particularly significant, providing vital sustenance for in-space robotics and composite spacecraft operations.
The successful completion of the SpaDeX mission underscores India's position among global space leaders, joining a list that includes the USA, Russia, and China, who have previously achieved similar feats in spacecraft docking technology. With this development, ISRO paves the way for pivotal missions such as moon landings and establishing an Indian space station.
However, the initial launch date of January 7 was delayed due to drift issues between the satellites as reported by major news outlets including The Hindu. To mitigate these risks, ground simulations were conducted to address potential abort scenarios, allowing ISRO to proceed with adjustments that successfully arrested the satellite drifts and facilitated seamless docking operations.
The SpaDeX mission showcases ISRO's advanced capabilities in spacecraft technology, highlighting its commitment to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and paving a path for groundbreaking missions in India's pursuit of becoming a global leader in space science.