In a groundbreaking achievement, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully conducted the docking of satellites as part of its ambitious Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), sources confirmed on Thursday.
“The docking was performed successfully. An official statement will follow soon,” an ISRO source told PTI.
This marks a significant step for India in advancing in-space docking technology, which is critical for complex space missions involving multiple launches. The mission had an earlier trial on January 12, where ISRO brought the two spacecraft to within three meters of each other before repositioning them to a safe distance.
The SpaDeX mission was launched on December 30, 2024, aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The rocket carried two small spacecraft, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), each weighing approximately 220 kg, along with 24 other payloads. Within 15 minutes of liftoff, the satellites were successfully placed into a 475-km circular orbit.
SpaDeX is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission designed to showcase ISRO’s capabilities in in-space docking, a critical technology for future interplanetary missions and large-scale space infrastructure development.
This milestone reinforces ISRO’s position as a global leader in space technology, opening doors to advanced mission possibilities requiring collaborative satellite operations.
