Tue Dec 31 00:45:41 UTC 2024: ## ISRO Successfully Launches SpaDeX Mission, Paving Way for Future Space Station

**Sriharikota, India** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on Monday evening from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The mission, launched aboard a PSLV-C60 rocket, marks a significant step towards India’s ambitious goal of establishing its own space station by 2035.

The SpaDeX mission utilizes two small spacecraft, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), weighing 220kg each, to demonstrate in-space rendezvous, docking, and undocking capabilities. ISRO Chairman S Somanath lauded the successful launch and praised the team for their innovative and cost-effective approach. He highlighted the mission’s importance in developing autonomous docking technology crucial for future lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4, which will operate without reliance on Earth-based GNSS.

The mission’s success is particularly noteworthy given the smaller size and mass of the spacecraft, demanding higher precision for maneuvering compared to larger spacecraft. The technology demonstrated by SpaDeX will be instrumental in satellite servicing and future interplanetary missions.

In addition to SpaDeX, the PSLV-C60 also deployed the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4 (POEM-4), carrying 24 small payloads (14 from ISRO and 10 from academic institutions) into different orbits approximately 90 minutes after launch.

The launch, initially scheduled for 9:58 PM, was slightly delayed to 10:00 PM, although the reason for the postponement was not officially disclosed. The 44.5-meter tall PSLV successfully placed both spacecraft in their designated orbits, marking a major achievement for ISRO’s space exploration program.

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