New Delhi: India is on the verge of a groundbreaking achievement in space exploration. As part of its final mission for 2024, ISRO is preparing to launch SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 10 PM IST. This mission could place India alongside the United States, Russia, and China, who are currently the only nations capable of docking spacecraft in space.

SpaDeX will involve an experimental docking between two satellites, followed by pressure tests and undocking. The mission’s success is vital for future moon missions, including Chandrayaan-4, and India’s goal to establish its own space station by 2035. ISRO’s PSLV-C60 rocket will launch the two spacecraft, which will orbit Earth at 475 km, gradually drifting apart over 24 hours. Mission control in Bengaluru will then oversee the docking procedure in early January.

The main objectives of the SpaDeX mission include testing technology for rendezvous, docking, and undocking, as well as the transfer of electric power between spacecraft. These advancements will be crucial for India’s space station and its future Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). Alongside, ISRO’s POEM-4 mission will experiment with microgravity and conduct 24 scientific payloads, including a robotic arm to capture debris—key technology for India’s space ambitions.

India is poised to join an elite group of nations mastering docking technology, taking one step closer to the next frontier of space exploration.