ISRO prepares to create history, successfully tested two satellites under SpaDeX docking mission

New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organization conducted a docking trial of two satellites under its Space Docking Experiment mission early Sunday morning. Both the satellites named SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) successfully reached a distance of 15 meters and then came to a distance of just 3 meters from each other.

ISRO said that the satellites successfully completed the trial of reaching 15 meters and then 3 meters first. Now the spacecraft are being taken back to a safe distance, the docking process will be completed after further data analysis. Earlier, ISRO’s update came when the distance between these satellites was 230 meters on January 10. This mission has been done with the aim of docking in space, which is important for India’s future space missions.

The agency is now waiting for Indian ground stations to receive signals for the actual docking experiment. The experiment was earlier scheduled for January 7, but was postponed to January 9 due to technical problems. Let us tell you that the SpaDeX mission, which was successfully launched on 30 December 2024 from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota via PSLV C60 rocket, has been carried out with 2 small satellites weighing about 220 kg. They have been sent to a circular orbit at an altitude of 475 km.

What is Spadex Mission?
There are two satellites in this mission. First chaser and second target. The chaser satellite will catch the target. It will dock with it. Apart from this, there can be one more important test in it. A robotic arm has come out from the satellite, which will pull the target towards itself through a hook i.e. in a tethered manner. This target can be a different CubeSat. With this experiment, in future, ISRO will get the technology to bring back the satellite leaving the orbit and going in a different direction to the orbit. Along with this, the option of servicing and refueling in orbit will also open. In the Spadex mission, two different spacecraft will be shown joining in space.

India becomes the fourth country in the world
ISRO said that this technology is necessary when multiple rocket launches are required to meet the objectives of a single mission. If this mission is successful, India will become the fourth country in the world to have acquired this technology. So far, only America, China and Russia have this technology.

What is the space docking process?
Space docking is a process in which two spacecraft or satellites come very close to each other and join together. It is a complex technical process, which is especially used in space missions. The main purpose of docking is to share data, connect power sources or carry out a particular mission by connecting 2 satellites to each other. During space docking, one spacecraft has to be brought close to another spacecraft and attached in a controlled manner so that no damage occurs. This process is important for future missions, such as building long-term stations in space, sending missions to the Moon or Mars, and sending astronauts from one place to another.