ISRO's SpaDeX Mission Achieves Historic Success: Two Indian Satellites Dock in Space

 ISRO's SpaDeX Mission Achieves Historic Success: Two Indian Satellites Dock in Space

New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a historic milestone on Thursday morning, successfully docking two Indian satellites in space as part of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX). The mission marks India's first successful satellite docking, making it the fourth country in the world—after Russia, the USA, and China—to accomplish this feat.

The breakthrough came during the fourth attempt, with ISRO announcing the success at 10 am. “Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment for India,” ISRO declared. The docking process involved maneuvering the satellites from a distance of 15 meters to a hold point of 3 meters, followed by precise docking and stabilization through retraction and rigidization.

Indigenous Bhartiya Docking System Leads the Way

The success of SpaDeX was enabled by the indigenously developed Bhartiya Docking System. The satellites, named SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), approached each other at a speed of just 10 millimeters per second before the docking process was initiated.

Orbiting 475 kilometers above Earth, the two satellites were launched on December 30, 2024, aboard a PSLV C60 rocket. The mission serves as a stepping stone for India’s future space endeavors, including Chandrayaan-4 and the Bhartiya Antariksha Station.

Trials Leading to Success

Before the final docking, ISRO conducted a series of cautious trials over two weeks. On January 12, 2025, the satellites moved as close as three meters in a trial maneuver, described by ISRO as an “exciting handshake.” The satellites were then moved back to a safe distance for further data analysis before attempting the final docking.

Prime Minister's Congratulatory Message

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to congratulate ISRO scientists and the Indian space community. “This is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come,” he said.

A Historic Achievement

The SpaDeX mission not only demonstrates India’s capability in satellite docking but also opens doors to advanced technologies essential for future missions. Docking is a critical enabler for building space stations and conducting deep-space exploration.

With this achievement, India joins the elite league of nations capable of mastering complex space docking, paving the way for a new era of space exploration and technological advancements.