Tue Dec 31 05:21:43 UTC 2024: ## ISRO Successfully Launches Space Docking Experiment Mission

**Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh:** The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone in its space program on December 30, 2024, with the successful launch of the PSLV-C60 rocket carrying the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. The launch, which took place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 10 p.m., deployed two small satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), into a 475-km circular orbit. In addition to the SpaDeX satellites, the rocket also carried 24 other innovative payloads.

ISRO Chairman S Somanth confirmed the successful deployment and orbit insertion, noting that the satellites’ solar panels had been deployed and that the rendezvous and docking process, expected to occur around January 7th, is underway. The satellites, weighing approximately 220 kg each, will gradually reduce the distance between them over several days, culminating in a docking maneuver.

The SpaDeX mission is a crucial step towards developing technologies necessary for future ambitious projects, including sending an Indian astronaut to the moon, lunar sample return missions, and the construction of an Indian space station. The successful demonstration of precise spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking capabilities places India among an elite group of nations possessing this advanced technology. ISRO highlighted the precision of the PSLV vehicle in achieving the required relative velocity between the Target and Chaser spacecraft, enabling the phased approach to docking.

The mission also includes 24 PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4) payloads, further enhancing its scientific value. U R Rao Satellite Centre Director M. Sanakaran anticipates the docking to be completed between January 7th and 10th. The successful launch marks a significant leap forward for India’s space exploration capabilities.

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