Mon Dec 30 18:55:35 UTC 2024: ## ISRO Achieves Milestone: Successfully Launches Space Docking Experiment
**Sriharikota, India** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the PSLV-C60 rocket carrying the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEx), marking a significant advancement in India’s space capabilities. The launch, which took place on December 30th at 10:00:15 PM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, deployed two key satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, along with 24 other payloads.
SpaDEx aims to demonstrate India’s capability in orbital docking, a crucial technology for future space station construction and human spaceflight. The mission involves a “chaser” satellite (SDX01) attempting to dock with a “target” satellite (SDX02) in a circular orbit 476 kilometers above Earth. This complex maneuver, involving the precise connection and disconnection of spacecraft, will be attempted within a week of launch. Successful completion would make India only the fourth nation – after the US, Russia, and China – to master this crucial technology.
ISRO officials highlighted the challenges of orbital docking, emphasizing the precision required to avoid potential accidents and fluid leaks which could compromise the mission and endanger future crewed space missions. The successful execution of SpaDEx is a vital step towards ISRO’s ambitious plans to construct its own space station. The organization plans to release further updates on the docking attempt in the coming days.
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