Mon Dec 30 17:15:51 UTC 2024: ## ISRO Achieves Historic Space Docking Milestone, Joins Elite Space Club
**Sriharikota, India** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made history, successfully completing its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex). A PSLV-C60 rocket launched two spacecraft, “Target” and “Chaser,” into orbit 470 kilometers above Earth. This marks India’s entry into an elite club of nations – the US, Russia, and China – capable of performing orbital docking and undocking maneuvers.
The mission involved a complex procedure where the two 220-kilogram spacecraft, initially separated, autonomously docked and then undocked at speeds reaching 28,800 kilometers per hour. The docking process, controlled from Earth, began approximately 10 days after launch, with the Chaser spacecraft gradually closing the distance to the Target spacecraft from 20 kilometers down to 3 meters before engaging. Electrical power was then transferred between the docked spacecraft.
ISRO has patented its unique docking mechanism, a significant achievement given the generally secretive nature of this advanced technology. The successful SpaDex paves the way for ambitious future projects, including the Chandrayaan-4 lunar mission, the development of an independent Indian space station, and future satellite servicing, interplanetary missions, and even crewed lunar missions. The ability to dock and undock in space is crucial for multi-stage mission launches and complex space operations. This technological advancement firmly establishes ISRO as a major player in the global space race, rivaling even NASA’s capabilities.
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