SpaDeX Mission: India Achieves Milestone in Space Docking
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On January 16, 2023, India successfully docked its SpaDeX mission satellites, marking it as the fourth nation to master space docking technology. ISRO's achievement is significant for future space endeavors.
Key Takeaways
- India becomes the 4th country to achieve successful space docking.
- Docking technology was developed indigenously as Bharatiya Docking System.
- Successful docking crucial for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing.
- ISRO's accomplishment supports upcoming lunar missions.
- Power transfer between docked spacecraft demonstrated for future applications.
New Delhi, Jan 16 (NationPress) With the successful docking of the satellites of the SpaDeX mission, India has now become the fourth nation to master the space docking technology, as declared by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday.
ISRO reported the successful merging of two small spacecraft -- SDX01, the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target -- each weighing approximately 220 kg.
The satellites were launched as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, which took off aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket from Sriharikota on December 30.
With this achievement, India joins an elite group, being the fourth country after the US, Russia, and China to successfully develop docking technology. “Docking Success! Spacecraft docking has been completed successfully! A historic moment,” ISRO announced in a social media post on platform X.
“Docking has been successfully completed. India is now the 4th country to achieve space docking success. Congratulations to the entire team! Kudos to India!” the post continued.
Dr. V. Narayanan, Secretary of DOS, Chairman of the Space Commission, and Chairman of ISRO, commended the ISRO team for their efforts.
During a trial attempt on Sunday, the two satellites came within three metres of each other, having previously maneuvered from a distance of 15 m. They later moved back to a safe distance.
ISRO highlighted that the “manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point has been completed successfully,” emphasizing that the docking was achieved with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture.
“Retraction has been completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability.”
The docking technology was developed indigenously and has been designated the ‘Bharatiya Docking System’.
This system includes a docking mechanism, a suite of four rendezvous and docking sensors, power transfer technology, an innovative autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy, and an inter-satellite communication link (ISL) that enables autonomous communication between spacecraft, equipped with built-in intelligence to monitor the states of the other spacecraft.
ISRO is optimistic that the SpaDeX mission will showcase India's proficiency in orbital docking, which is a crucial technology for future human spaceflight initiatives and satellite servicing missions.
Besides joining the ranks of leading space nations, mastering docking technology is essential for India's upcoming space missions, including lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4, the establishment of the Indian space station, and other lunar endeavors, all of which will proceed without reliance on global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) from Earth.
According to ISRO, this mission will also demonstrate the transfer of electric power between docked spacecraft, which is critical for future applications such as in-space robotics, composite spacecraft control, and payload operations following undocking.
