The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully completed the docking of its SpaDex satellites on Thursday as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) programme. This makes India only the fourth country in the world to achieve this feat.
“India docked its name in space history! Good Morning India Isro’s SpaDeX mission accomplishes historic docking success. Proud to witness this moment!,” Isro said in a post on X.
“The docking was performed successfully. We will be issuing a statement soon,” news agency PTI quoted a source as saying.
Earlier on January 12, Isro successfully brought the two satellites within a proximity of three metres and then moved them back to a safe distance. It was a trial attempt to dock the satellites.
Besides India, only the United States, Russia, and China have have shown the satellite docking capability.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Isro scientists for the achievement in a post on X.
Modi said, “Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.”
Isro had launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on December 30, 2024.
The PSLV C60 rocket carrying two small satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), along with 24 payloads, had lifted off from the first launchpad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and about 15 minutes after liftoff, the two small spacecraft weighing about 220 kg each were launched into a 475-km circular orbit as intended.
According to Isro, the SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft that was launched by PSLV.
In space, docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
With inputs from PTI
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Isro docks SpaDex satellites in space, India 4th country to achieve this feat
