On Thursday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked a historic achievement by successfully completing the docking process of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites.
ISRO celebrated the milestone with a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), stating, “India docked its name in space history! Good Morning India. ISRO’s SpaDeX mission accomplishes historic docking success. Proud to witness this moment!”
The breakthrough follows ISRO’s January 12 trial, where the satellites were maneuvered to a distance of three meters before being safely repositioned. The SpaDeX satellites, launched on December 30, 2024, initially held their position at 15 meters before executing the precise docking operation.
The process involved a series of intricate steps, beginning with the satellites’ movement from 15 meters to a 3-meter hold point. Docking was then initiated with remarkable precision, resulting in the successful capture of one spacecraft by the other. ISRO reported that retraction and rigidisation for stability were completed smoothly, ensuring a successful docking.
India is now the fourth nation to achieve this feat, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China. Post-docking, ISRO confirmed that the two satellites were successfully controlled as a single unit. The agency plans to conduct undocking and power transfer tests in the coming days.
This accomplishment highlights India’s growing expertise in advanced space technologies and strengthens its position as a global space leader.
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