At the end of the year, India has embarked on a new chapter in space research. On Monday (December 30) at 10 PM, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched its SPADEx mission from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Within 15 minutes of the launch, ISRO’s PSLV-C60 rocket placed two space docking satellites into orbit. Indian media outlet NDTV reported the event.
This mission aims to test space docking technology. Previously, only the United States, Russia, and China had achieved this milestone. India has now become the fourth country to join this prestigious list.
ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath announced that they have achieved the “precise orbit.”
The objective of “SPADEx,” or Space Docking Experiment, is to develop and demonstrate the technology required for spacecraft to “dock” and “undock” in orbit.
This involves developing the technology necessary for connecting (docking) and disconnecting (undocking) two orbiting spacecraft around Earth.
Docking and undocking technology is crucial for India’s ambitious space goals, such as lunar missions, collecting samples from the Moon, and constructing and operating the Indian space station (BAS).
ISRO has announced that the space docking experiment will likely be completed on January 7. The two satellites will align in space while moving at speeds ten times faster than a bullet.
Explaining this process, Dr. Somanath gave a special interview to NDTV. He stated that docking is a process required when multiple objects in space need to unite for specific purposes. Docking is the method by which two space objects come together and connect.
This marks the 99th rocket launch from the Satish Dhawan Center in Sriharikota. In the coming weeks, further steps, such as docking and conducting 24 experiments, will be carried out.