The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) docking process completed manoeuvring from 15 meters to 3 metres with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture,
Bengaluru: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday morning announced that India has successfully concluded the satellite docking, becoming the fourth country in the world to do so. The docking was a key part of the SpaDeX mission, marking a significant milestone for India’s space exploration program. The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) docking process completed manoeuvring from 15 meters to 3 metres with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture,
Taking on X (formerly Twitter), ISRO posted, “India became the 4th country to achieve successful Space Docking. Congratulations to the entire team! Congratulations to India,”
“SpaDeX Docking Update: Docking Success Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment. Let’s walk through the SpaDeX docking process: Manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed. Docking was initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture. Retraction was completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability. Docking successfully completed,” ISRO further added.
SpaDeX Docking Update:
🌟Docking Success
Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment.
Let’s walk through the SpaDeX docking process:
Manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed. Docking initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture.…
— ISRO (@isro) January 16, 2025
Post-docking, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported that control of the two satellites as a single object was successfully established and undocking and power transfer checks would follow in the coming days.
Congratulating ISRO, Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi tweeted, ” 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.’
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.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2025
Union Minister Jitendra Singh also celebrated ISRO success and described is as the key development India’s space mission. “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 and Chandrayaan 4 & Gaganyaan. PM Sh@narendramodi’s continuous patronage keeps the spirits soaring… here at Bengaluru,” he posted on X.
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 &…
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) January 16, 2025
The ISRO SpaDeX mission was led by project director N. Surendran, was designed to demonstrate the technology required for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft in low-Earth orbit. Its objective was to demonstrate transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft that is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics, composite spacecraft control, and payload operations after undocking.
(with inputs form agencies)
