[ad_1]
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Friday released a video of the successful docking experiment involving two satellites as part of its Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX).
ISRO “successfully” completed the docking of two SPADEX satellites (SDX-01 and SDX-02) in the early hours of January 16, 2025. This made India part of the “exclusive club of nations” – the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to acquire space-docking technology.
Following this achievement, ISRO released a video showing the pairing of the satellites in space. After this, ISRO’s new Chairman V Narayanan greeted the space agency’s team which made it successful.
“ISRO successfully completed the docking of two Spadex satellites (SDX-01 and SDX-02) in the early hours of January 16, 2025,” the space agency said in the caption of the video released on ‘X’.
The SpaDeX mission was launched on 30 December. Its objective was to showcase India’s technological prowess in rendezvous, docking and undocking of spacecraft.
The docking process was executed with exceptional precision. The spacecraft moved seamlessly from 15-meter to the 3-meter hold point, initiated the docking with precision and captured the successful spacecraft.
ISRO said on Thursday that “spacecraft docking [has been] Successfully completed”. The Indian space agency described it as a “historic moment” in a social media post.
“India becomes the fourth country to achieve successful space docking. Congratulations to the entire team! Congratulations to India!” ISRO posted on X.
Why is ‘docking’ necessary?
ISRO said that in space, docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
The docking experiment is crucial for the smooth functioning of the country’s ambitious future missions including Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, setting up a space station and landing an astronaut on the Moon.
ISRO has also said that undocking and power transfer will be investigated in the coming days.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh on Friday said an Indian space station will be set up by 2035 and the successful docking of satellites through Spadex is a major breakthrough in that direction.
The Indian space station is essential for future docking of satellites, PTI quoted the minister as saying during his visit to the Shimla IMD station.
Last October, the government had announced that India would have its own space station by 2035, which will be known as the “Indian Space Station”.
[ad_2]
