Mon Dec 30 22:40:38 UTC 2024: ## ISRO Achieves Space Docking Milestone, Becoming Fourth Nation to Master the Technology
**Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh:** The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made history on Monday, successfully launching the SpaDeX mission. The PSLV-C60 rocket, launched from Sriharikota, carried two small spacecraft, SDX 01 and SDX 02, into a circular orbit around Earth. The mission’s primary objective is to demonstrate autonomous space docking – the ability to connect two spacecraft in orbit. Upon successful completion, India will join an elite group of nations, including the US, Russia, and China, capable of this complex maneuver.
SpaDeX is a cost-effective technology demonstrator crucial for future human space missions and satellite servicing. The docking experiment, expected to occur 10-14 days post-launch, will involve bringing the two spacecraft within three meters of each other at an altitude of approximately 470 kilometers. Spacecraft A carries a high-resolution camera, while Spacecraft B carries a miniature multispectral payload and a radiation monitor, providing valuable data for various applications including high-resolution imagery and resource monitoring.
ISRO hailed the mission as a significant milestone, paving the way for future ambitious projects like human missions to the Moon and Mars, and the establishment of an Indian space station. The successful docking technology also enhances the efficiency of multi-rocket launch missions for various objectives. The launch also included 24 secondary payloads alongside the primary SpaDeX mission.
First Piper 