New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on Monday night.
The mission, which aims to advance in-space docking technology, was carried out alongside 24 other experiments aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The PSLV, carrying two 220-kilogram satellites, lifted off smoothly after a brief two-minute delay to avoid potential satellite collisions in orbit.
The two satellites, SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target), are now set to perform space docking within the next 10 days, with the event expected to occur around January 7. This mission is crucial for demonstrating the advanced docking capabilities needed for future space missions, including lunar expeditions and the development of India’s own Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).
Once deployed into low Earth orbit, the satellites will initially drift apart by approximately 10-15 kilometers. After performing system health checks, the Chaser satellite will begin a controlled approach toward the Target satellite, reducing the distance in stages—from 5 kilometers to 1.5 kilometers—before the final docking.
Both satellites are equipped with advanced payloads, including imaging systems and radiation monitoring devices designed to measure electron and proton radiation levels in space.
The data gathered will be essential for upcoming human spaceflight missions.
The successful completion of SpaDeX will significantly enhance India’s capabilities in orbital docking, marking a crucial step in the country’s ambitions to lead complex space operations.
This success will also pave the way for future interplanetary missions, such as a lunar mission and the creation of the Bhartiya Antriksh Station, where satellites will be able to dock and return to Earth. India’s advancement in space docking technology positions the country to become the fourth nation (after US, Russia, and China) capable of mastering docking and undocking in space—an essential skill for missions requiring multiple rocket launches and precise inter-satellite coordination.
This cost-effective mission underscores ISRO’s growing expertise and opens the door for India to pursue ambitious space goals, including human spaceflight and satellite servicing.
