The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone on Thursday with the successful undocking of its SpaDeX satellites, paving the way for India’s ambitious future space missions.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh congratulated the ISRO team, calling the “unbelievable de-docking” a heartening event for every Indian. He highlighted that this achievement would support the smooth execution of upcoming missions like the Bharatiya Antriksha Station, Chandrayaan 4, and Gaganyaan. Singh also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continuous support in boosting India’s space aspirations.
The undocking process involved the separation of the SDX-01 (Chaser) and SDX-02 (Target) satellites, launched on December 30, 2024, using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C60 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The sequence included the extension of SDX-2, the release and disengagement of the Capture Lever, and the final separation of the two satellites.
This success follows the initial docking of the SpaDeX satellites in January 2025, marking India as the fourth country in the world to achieve space docking technology, alongside China, Russia, and the United States. The mission showcases India’s capabilities in spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking—critical for future advancements like satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary exploration.
This cost-effective technology demonstrator mission will play a key role in India’s space goals, including sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon, returning samples from the lunar surface, and establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). The SpaDeX spacecraft were developed by ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) with support from various ISRO centers.