Mon Dec 30 20:12:10 UTC 2024: ## India Launches Ambitious Space Docking Experiment, Eyes Future Moon Missions

**Bengaluru, India** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on December 30th, 2024, marking a significant step towards India’s ambitious space goals. The mission, involving two 220-kilogramme spacecraft, aims to demonstrate the complex process of docking and undocking two spacecraft in orbit – a capability currently possessed by only three other nations.

The successful launch of SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket paves the way for India to join an elite group of spacefaring nations. ISRO Chair S Somnath expressed optimism, anticipating the commencement of the docking process within a week. The two satellites, orbiting at incredibly high speeds, will need precise maneuvering to reduce their relative velocity to a mere 0.036 kilometers per hour for a successful docking.

SpaDeX is more than just a docking demonstration. The mission will also test inter-satellite power transfer, crucial for future projects like in-space robotics and complex spacecraft operations. The satellites carry scientific payloads including high-resolution cameras, multispectral sensors, and radiation monitors to conduct various experiments, from capturing high-resolution images to studying vegetation and measuring radiation levels in orbit.

The mission, a two-year endeavor, is a key stepping stone towards India’s long-term space ambitions, including sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon, conducting lunar sample return missions, and establishing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (Indian Space Station) by 2035.

The PSLV-C60 launch also carried 24 other payloads, including 14 developed by ISRO and its partners, focusing on technology validation and proof-of-concept experiments. These experiments ranged from testing robotic arms to studying the effects of microgravity on plant and bacterial growth. The remaining payloads, developed by private entities and academic institutions, explored further innovative ideas, such as establishing India’s first artificial intelligence laboratory in space. The successful launch underscores India’s growing capabilities in space technology and its commitment to exploring the final frontier.

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