News Brief
ISRO's SpaDeX: India Set To Become Fourth Nation With Docking Tech For Space Station, First Step Towards Interplanetary Missions
ISRO. (Representative image)
India is gearing up for a major milestone in its space exploration journey with the launch of the SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Scheduled for 30 December, at 9:58 PM, the mission will lift off from Sriharikota aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, marking the nation’s first step towards interplanetary missions and the establishment of a dedicated Indian space station.
The SpaDeX mission aims to develop and demonstrate cost-effective docking and undocking technology, a crucial capability for advancing India’s ambitions in space exploration.
ISRO highlighted that this mission will position India as the fourth nation in the world to possess such sophisticated technology, a key enabler for future endeavors like lunar sample returns and the operation of the proposed Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
The SpaDeX mission revolves around two small spacecraft, Target and Chaser, each weighing approximately 220 kg. These spacecraft will be launched simultaneously into a 470 km circular orbit at 55° inclination, where they will demonstrate in-space rendezvous, docking, and undocking technology.
This mission marks a significant leap for India, as in-space docking technology is critical for scenarios where multiple rocket launches are required to achieve a single, unified mission objective.
With SpaDeX, ISRO is not only taking a giant step towards establishing India’s own space station but also laying the groundwork for interplanetary missions, solidifying its position as a global leader in space exploration.
