Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, announced today that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for a historic mission set to launch on December 30, 2024. The mission, named the “Space Docking Experiment” (SpaDeX), aims to achieve the rare feat of docking two satellites in space, a complex task mastered by only a few nations.
Dr. Singh highlighted that the upcoming mission will showcase India’s growing expertise in space technology. This mission, using the indigenously developed “Bharatiya Docking System,” will see the launch of two satellites aboard the PSLV rocket. The goal is to dock the satellites in orbit, demonstrating India’s advanced capabilities in spacecraft docking technology.
SpaDeX is a significant milestone for India, marking its entry into the exclusive group of nations capable of mastering space docking. The two satellites, designated ‘Chaser’ and ‘Target,’ will orbit 470 km above Earth, moving at speeds of 28,800 km/h. To successfully dock, the relative velocities of the satellites will need to be reduced to just 0.036 km/h. Once docked, the satellites will merge into a single unit, demonstrating the success of India’s indigenous docking technology.
The success of this mission will play a crucial role in India’s future space ambitions, particularly for long-term missions like “Chandrayaan-4,” the upcoming Indian space station, and the “Gaganyaan” human spaceflight mission. Docking technology is also essential for satellite servicing, which will be vital for future space endeavors.
In addition to the docking mission, SpaDeX will involve the PSLV-C60 rocket’s fourth stage, POEM-4, carrying 24 payloads from academic institutions and startups. These payloads will conduct experiments in the microgravity environment of space.
SpaDeX represents a key step towards India’s leadership in space exploration and its growing capability in satellite servicing and spacecraft docking. With this mission, ISRO aims to lay the foundation for more advanced space missions in the years to come, further establishing India’s place among the world’s space pioneers.
