Mon Dec 30 17:40:40 UTC 2024: ## India Successfully Launches Ambitious Space Docking Experiment

**Sriharikota, India –** The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its ambitious Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on Monday at 10:00 PM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission, launched aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration program, placing the nation among a select few with in-space docking capabilities.

SpaDeX utilizes two 220 kg satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), deployed into a low-Earth orbit approximately 470 kilometers above the Earth. The primary objective is to demonstrate and validate crucial rendezvous, docking, and undocking technologies, paving the way for more complex future missions like lunar exploration and the construction of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).

The mission’s success is vital for India’s long-term space ambitions, as in-space docking eliminates the need for multiple rocket launches to achieve common objectives. Beyond the primary goal, SpaDeX will also test electrical power transfer between docked spacecraft, and the use of one spacecraft’s attitude control system to control another during docking. Post-undocking payload operations and advanced technologies like rendezvous sensors and inter-satellite communication links will also be evaluated.

ISRO officials are optimistic about the mission’s outcome and its impact on future space endeavors. Over the next two years, a series of tests will be conducted, including operations of 24 innovative payloads, some developed by universities and startups. The SpaDeX mission represents a substantial advancement in India’s pursuit of cutting-edge space technology.

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