Mon Jan 06 09:07:47 UTC 2025: ## ISRO Postpones Space Docking Experiment by Two Days
**Bengaluru, January 6, 2025** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced a two-day postponement of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) involving two small satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target). The docking, originally scheduled for January 7th, will now take place on January 9th.
The postponement is due to the need for further ground simulations based on an identified abort scenario. ISRO officials stated that this validation process is necessary to ensure the success of the experiment. The revised timeframe remains within the operational window, which extends until January 10th.
The SpaDeX mission, launched on December 30th, 2024, aboard the PSLV C60 rocket, aims to demonstrate crucial technologies for spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking. Mastering these technologies is essential for future ambitious missions, including sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon, returning lunar samples, and building an Indian Space Station. Only a select few nations currently possess this capability.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath had previously indicated that the docking would likely occur around January 7th. While the delay is not considered a major setback, it underscores the complexity of the undertaking and ISRO’s commitment to ensuring a successful outcome.
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