ISRO Achieves Historic Milestone as SpaDeX Satellites Successfully Dock in Space (X/ @ISRO)
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone on Thursday with the successful docking of its SpaDeX satellites, marking a historic moment in India's space exploration journey. This accomplishment was celebrated widely, with ISRO announcing, "India docked its name in space history! Good Morning India ISRO’s SpaDeX mission accomplishes historic docking success. Proud to witness this moment!" on their social media platform, X.
The successful docking follows a trial attempt on January 12, where ISRO maneuvered the two spacecraft to a distance of three meters before safely repositioning them. The SpaDeX mission, launched on December 30, 2024, is designed to demonstrate in-space docking capabilities using two small spacecraft. The process began with the satellites holding at a distance of 15 meters before moving to a precise three-meter hold point for docking.ISRO's post on X detailed the meticulous steps taken during the docking process: "Retraction completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability. Docking successfully completed."
This achievement not only highlights India's growing capabilities in space technology but also places it among an elite group of countries that have successfully accomplished space docking, including the United States, Russia, and China.
Following the docking, ISRO confirmed that controlling the two satellites as a single entity was successful. They stated, "Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days," indicating further advancements in their mission objectives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to ISRO and the broader space community, emphasizing that this achievement is a "significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.
"The PSLV C60 rocket played a crucial role in this mission by carrying two small satellites—SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target)—along with 24 additional payloads. Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, these satellites were placed into a circular orbit approximately 475 kilometers above Earth.
The SpaDeX mission serves as a cost-effective demonstration of in-space docking technology, essential for future missions that involve multiple rocket launches aimed at achieving common objectives. As ISRO continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, this successful docking operation represents not just a technical achievement but also a source of national pride for India.
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