India Achieves Space Docking Milestone with SpaDeX Mission
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a historic milestone by successfully achieving satellite docking under its Space Docking Experiment, or SpaDeX. India is now the fourth country in the world to master space docking technology.
In a post on X, ISRO detailed the process, stating, "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".
Union Minister Jitendra Singh lauded ISRO’s accomplishment, calling it a landmark for the nation. “SPADEX has accomplished the unbelievable… and it is all indigenous ‘Bharatiya Docking System.’ This milestone paves the way for ambitious future missions, including the Bharatiya Antriksha Station, Chandrayaan 4, and Gaganyaan”, he said, highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support for India’s space ambitions.
The SpaDeX mission launched on December 30, 2024 aboard the PSLV C60 rocket, placing two small satellites called SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) as well as 24 other payloads into orbit. Each of these satellites weighed in at about 220 kilograms. The satellites attained a circular orbit at 475 kilometers altitude only 15 minutes after liftoff from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
SpaDeX was tested extensively before the successful docking. A key preparatory maneuver on January 12 brought the spacecraft to within three meters of each other. Earlier attempts on January 7 and 9 were postponed for further refinements.
ISRO described SpaDeX as a cost-effective technology demonstrator aimed at proving the feasibility of in-space docking for small satellites, opening doors for future space station projects and advanced inter-satellite operations.
