Mon Dec 30 20:36:08 UTC 2024: ## ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission Achieves Successful Satellite Separation, Paving Way for Space Station

**Sriharikota, India** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on Monday at 10:00 PM IST from Sriharikota. The mission, launched via a PSLV rocket, marks a significant milestone in India’s space program, paving the way for the development of a future Indian Space Station (BAS) and the Chandrayaan-4 lunar mission.

The primary SpaDeX spacecraft A and B successfully separated, according to ISRO, a development hailed as another major step forward in India’s space endeavors. ISRO Chief S. Somanath stated that the docking process will begin Tuesday, with completion expected by January 7th.

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh celebrated the achievement, noting that India now joins a select group of nations – including the US, China, and Russia – capable of autonomous space docking. The SpaDeX mission utilizes an indigenously developed “Bharatiya Docking System.”

The mission involves two satellites: a “chaser” and a “target.” The chaser will dock with the target satellite using a robotic arm, demonstrating crucial technology for future space operations. This includes retrieving satellites from differing orbits, enabling in-orbit servicing and refueling. ISRO highlights the mission’s cost-effectiveness and its importance in reducing the need for multiple rocket launches to achieve complex mission goals.

The successful docking and undocking of the satellites will be a critical step towards enabling more ambitious missions, such as crewed lunar missions, sample return missions from the Moon, and the construction and operation of the Indian Space Station (BAS). The technology is also crucial for the success of the Chandrayaan-4 mission. SpaDeX, a low-cost technological demonstration, represents a pivotal advancement in India’s space capabilities.

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