ISRO Set to Launch SpaDeX Mission for Autonomous Space Docking

The Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is gearing up to conduct its SpaDeX mission scheduled for December 30. It involves autonomously docking two satellites orbiting at an altitude of 470 kilometers, setting India apart from the list of nations exploring the cosmos. Aboard the PSLV rocket, launched would be two satellites named 'Chaser' and 'Target', with a mass of around 220 kg each. Traveling at a speed of 28,800 km/h (36 times faster than a commercial airliner), the satellites will use the indigenously developed Bhartiya Docking System to achieve a precise docking. This advanced system is cost-effective and requires only two motors, a stark contrast to the 24 motors used in NASA's International Docking System Standard (IDSS). ISRO has already patented this cutting-edge docking technology.

This mission, developed over a decade, demonstrates India’s capability to achieve autonomous in-space docking, a feat previously mastered by Russia, the US, and China. The technology is essential for future projects such as the Chandrayaan-4, a lunar sample return mission, and the development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), India’s space station.

While ISRO scientists conceived and designed SpaDeX, final assembly, and integration were carried out by Bengaluru-based private space technology company Ananth Technologies, marking a significant collaboration between India’s public and private sectors.

According to ISRO Chairman Dr. S Somanath, mastering docking is crucial for India’s ambitions in human spaceflight and space station development. The current version of the Bhartiya Docking System, measuring 450 mm in diameter, will eventually expand to 800 mm to support docking with larger modules like the Gaganyaan Crew Module.

India is on the brink of joining the exclusive league of nations capable of autonomous space docking, propelling its space program to new heights.