The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully accomplished the docking of satellites in space, marking a significant achievement in the nation’s space exploration journey. With this accomplishment, India joins an elite group of four nations that have mastered the sophisticated technologies required for advanced space missions, including the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station and lunar astronaut landings.
Announcing the milestone on social media, SpaDeX Docking Update:
ISRO stated:
We are further close, we see each other from an Inter Satellite Distance (ISD) of 105m#SPADEX #ISRO pic.twitter.com/9O4Sydk0Ly
“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.”
In a subsequent update, ISRO detailed:
“SpaDeX Docking Update: Post docking, control of two satellites as a single object is successful. Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in the coming days.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO scientists and the wider space community for this remarkable achievement. He described the success as a “significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.”
“Congratulations to our scientists at ISRO and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites,” the Prime Minister wrote on social media.
Trial Attempts and Final Success
The journey to this milestone included rigorous trials. On January 12, ISRO announced a trial maneuver in which two satellites were brought within three meters of each other before being moved back to a safe distance. ISRO confirmed that the docking process would proceed after further data analysis.
Earlier, two schedules for the docking experiment, set for January 7 and January 9, were postponed. However, ISRO launched the mission on December 30 using the PSLV-C60 rocket, which carried two small satellites — SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) — along with 24 payloads. The satellites, each weighing approximately 220 kilograms, were placed in a 475-kilometer circular orbit about 15 minutes after liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
About the SpaDeX Mission
The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) is a cost-effective technology demonstrator aimed at showcasing in-space docking capabilities using small spacecraft. According to ISRO, this technology is critical for missions requiring multiple rocket launches to achieve unified objectives.
This milestone underscores India’s growing expertise in space technology and its aspirations to expand its presence in the global space arena. The successful demonstration of docking not only enhances India’s technological capabilities but also sets the stage for future endeavors in deep space exploration.
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