The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully placed the twin spacecraft that would aid in demonstrating space docking, in the desired orbit, thereby putting India on the list of nations that have achieved the future technology.
"The 44.5-metre tall PSLV rocket placed the two spacecraft—Spacecraft A (SDX01) and Spacecraft B (SDX02)— in the right orbit of 475 km circular orbit, after over 15 minutes of flight," Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath said.
He added that the SpaDeX satellites have moved one behind the other. Over time, they will pick up further distance, travel about 20 km away and then the rendezvous and docking process will start. "We hope that the docking process can happen in another week and the nominal time is going to be approximately January 7," he said in his address from the Mission Control Centre.
The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) is a complex process where two spacecraft connect while orbiting the Earth. The technology is essential for India's space ambitions such as India on the Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) etc.
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The mission involves two small satellites, a Target and a Chaser, each weighing about 220 kilograms. There is also a secondary payload module with 24 different experiments aboard, including a small robotic arm, and payloads from startups, industries, academia and also from ISRO centres. The module rides aboard the PSLV rocket's fourth stage independent of the SpaDeX satellites. The arm and other payloads will be tested after docking in a payload operations demonstration. These are scheduled to be fired on Tuesday morning.
"They are payloads and are not satellites. They are going to be attached to the fourth stage (of the PSLV rocket) for conducting experiments over the next two months. The upper stage of the PSLV rocket will be brought down to a lowered orbit to 350 km and that process is currently going on. After that, we will have many activities to continue," Somanath, also the Secretary, the Department of Space, said.
With regard to the docking expected 'possibly on January 7', ISRO scientists will perform several demos, all of which will be telecast by the camera of the docking processes.
4th nation to achieve the feat
The achievement, dubbed a prelude to the ISRO setting up its own Space Station by 2035, made India the fourth nation to join the elite league of nations to achieve space docking through its own indigenously developed "Bharatiya Docking System."
The others to achieve this technological feat are China, Russia and the US.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh took to X to highlight the achievement: "India has become the fourth country to join the select league of nations to achieve space docking, through its own indigenously developed 'Bharatiya Docking System.'"
"Privileged to be associated with the Department of Space at a time when Team #ISRO mesmerizes the world with global wonders, one after the other." the Minister added.
