ISRO's SpaDeX Mission Achieves India's First Satellite Docking, Joining Elite Space Nations

Jan 16, 2025, 05:00 AM

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully completed its first satellite docking maneuver, marking a significant milestone in India's space capabilities. On January 16, 2025, ISRO's SpaDeX mission achieved spacecraft docking between two satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, in Earth's orbit. This accomplishment makes India the fourth nation, after the United States, Russia, and China, to indigenously develop docking technology. The docking process involved maneuvering from a 15-meter to a 3-meter hold point before initiating docking and achieving successful spacecraft capture. Post-docking, control of the two satellites as a single object was successful, and undocking and power transfer checks are to follow in the coming days. This success is a crucial step toward India's future ambitious space missions, including potential space stations and the Chandrayaan-4 mission. ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan congratulated the team, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the achievement as a significant stepping stone for India's ambitious space missions. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh also praised the indigenous 'Bharatiya Docking System.' The mission was carried out with a budget of $43 million USD, demonstrating India's capability to undertake sophisticated space operations cost-effectively.