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India has become the fourth country — after the US, Russia, and China — to have tested space docking capability. This is crucial for India to demonstrate in-space docking using two small spacecraft. This technology is key to future lunar missions, building the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, and more.
On December 31, the PSLV-C60/SPADEX mission was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota (ISRO).
“Docking Success. Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment. Post docking, control of two satellites as a single object is successful. Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in a statement on social media.
In a walkthrough of the SpaDeX docking process, ISRO said manoeuvres from the 15m to the 3m hold point were completed. Docking was initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture. Retraction was completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability. Docking was successfully completed.
“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,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a social media post.
“Congrats ISRO. Finally made it. SPADEX has accomplished the unbelievable… docking complete… and it is all indigenous “Bharatiya Docking System”. This paves the way for smooth conduct of ambitious future missions including the Bharatiya Antriksha Station, Chandrayaan 4 & Gaganyaan,” Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Science & Technology, said.
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