ISRO's SpaDeX Mission Advances Toward Historic Space Docking

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the cusp of a groundbreaking achievement with its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. Launched on December 30, 2024, aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, the mission deployed two 220-kilogram spacecraft—SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target)—into a 470-kilometer circular orbit. Over the next two days, these satellites will execute a series of complex maneuvers, culminating in a docking attempt scheduled for January 7, 2025. 

Nilesh Desai, Director of ISRO's Space Applications Centre (SAC), provided insights into the mission's progression:

"For the next two days, the two satellites will move in the orbit, following which there will be a four-day waiting period. Later, the docking experiment will begin, with the 'Chaser' moving towards the 'Target' and the two merging together."

This mission positions India to join an exclusive group of nations—namely the United States, Russia, and China—that have successfully demonstrated in-space docking technology. Such capabilities are essential for future endeavors, including satellite servicing, lunar missions, and the establishment of India's proposed space station, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station. 

The SpaDeX mission also features advanced payloads, including imaging systems and radiation monitors, which are vital for future human spaceflight missions. The successful execution of this docking experiment will not only enhance India's space technology portfolio but also contribute to the global understanding of autonomous dockin

g systems.