India is going to create history in space docking technology

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is moving towards another historic achievement. ISRO is preparing to successfully dock two satellites in space on Sunday under the SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission. If this effort is successful, India will become the fourth country in the world to master space docking technology.

Current phase of SpaDeX mission

On Saturday evening, two small satellites named Chaser and Target were launched into space at a distance of 15 meters. These have been temporarily locked for preliminary investigation. According to ISRO officials, the final docking process can be done on Sunday.

• Friday’s situation: The distance between the satellites was 1.5 kilometers.
• Saturday’s progress: Distance reduced to 15 meters and they were locked.
• Sunday’s goal: to dock the satellites perfectly.

ISRO official statement

ISRO shared the information on social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), saying:

“All sensors are being evaluated. The condition of the spacecraft is normal.”

However, no formal announcement has been made yet regarding the exact date and time of the docking process.

SpaDeX Mission: A Glimpse

The SpaDeX mission was successfully launched on December 30 via a PSLV rocket. This mission is a test of the economical and technical capability of docking in space with the help of two small spacecraft.

• key objectives:
  1. Precisely docking two satellites in space.
  2. Development of this technology for future Indian space missions.

Earlier, the docking experiments could not be completed on the deadline announced on January 7 and 9.

Importance of docking technology for India

SpaDeX mission will prove to be a milestone in taking India’s space ambitions to new heights. This technology is essential for many large missions, such as:

• Moon missions: Plans to bring samples to and from the Moon.
• Indian Space Station: Construction and operation of indigenous Indian Space Station (BAS).
• Planning for long-term space missions: ensuring long-term human presence in space.

India’s global position

If the SpaDeX mission is successful, India will become the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to gain expertise in space docking technology.

SpaDeX mission prospects

This mission is not only a testament to India’s progress in space technology, but will also strengthen India’s position in global space research. Experiments like SpaDeX will help lay the foundation for future Indian space stations and other manned missions.