Daijiworld Media Network- Sriharikota

Sriharikota, Jan 16: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a historic milestone by successfully docking its SpaDeX satellites, marking India's entry into the elite group of nations capable of space docking.

The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, launched on December 30, 2024, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, was successfully completed on Thursday. ISRO proudly shared the achievement through a post on 'X', stating, "India docked its name in space history! Good Morning India ISRO’s SpaDeX mission accomplishes historic docking success. Proud to witness this moment!"

This historic milestone came just days after ISRO’s trial attempt on January 12, where the two spacecraft were brought to a mere three-metre distance and then moved back to a safe distance to ensure safety.

The SpaDeX mission involved the precise docking of two small spacecraft, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), each weighing approximately 220 kg. The PSLV C60 rocket successfully launched the satellites alongside 24 payloads into a 475-kilometre circular orbit.

ISRO’s docking process involved a carefully planned manoeuvre from a 15-metre hold point to a precise 3-metre docking point, followed by smooth retraction and rigidisation for stability. "Docking successfully completed," ISRO stated.

India became the fourth country to achieve this space docking feat, following the United States, Russia, and China. Post-docking, ISRO successfully controlled the two satellites as a single object, with undocking and power transfer checks to follow in the coming days.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO and the entire space fraternity for this remarkable achievement, calling it a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions.
The SpaDeX mission is seen as a cost-effective demonstrator of in-space docking technology, which is crucial for missions involving multiple spacecraft aiming to achieve common objectives.