ISRO's SpaDeX: India Set To Become Fourth Nation With Docking Tech For Space Station, First Step Towards Interplanetary Missions

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.

Through a post on X, ISRO shared, “PSLV-C60, fully integrated up to PS4 at the PIF facility for the first time, was moved to the MST at the First Launch Pad—over three hours captured in just a few seconds.”

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.

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