India Achieves Historic Milestone in Space Docking Technology
Bangalore, January 12 (ANI): In a significant breakthrough, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully carried out the docking of two satellites in space on Thursday, marking India as the fourth country in the world to accomplish this feat after the US, Russia, and China.
The achievement is a crucial milestone for India's ambitious future missions, including Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, setting up a space station, and landing an astronaut on the moon. In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
ISRO had originally scheduled the docking experiment for January 9 but deferred it to January 12 after scientists felt that further validation through ground simulations was needed due to an identified abort scenario. The successful docking was carried out using India's indigenous Bharatia Docking System technology.
According to ISRO, the two satellites, each weighing 220 kg, were originally supposed to dock on January 7 but were put in space earlier on December 30 by a PSLV rocket. After being launched, they underwent a series of tests and maneuvers before finally achieving successful docking.
"We have successfully completed the spacecraft docking process! This is a historic moment," ISRO said in a statement.
The successful docking has significant implications for India's future missions, including Chandrayaan-4, an ambitious lunar mission scheduled to launch later this year. The experiment will also pave the way for setting up India's own space station and landing an astronaut on the moon.
President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO for achieving this historic milestone. "Congratulations to our scientists at ISRO and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites," said President Murmu.
This achievement marks a significant step forward in India's space program, showcasing its capabilities as a major player in the global space community.