ISRO Successfully Achieves SpaDeX De-Docking, Key Milestone for Future Missions like Chandrayaan-4.
Science and Technology
In March 2025, the Bengaluru (Karnataka)-based Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a major milestone in space technology by successfully completing the de-docking of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites.
- This makes India the fourth country, after China, Russia, and the United States of America (USA), to demonstrate space docking technology.
- These advancements are crucial for future missions such as the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, human spaceflight (Gaganyaan), and lunar sample return missions (Chandrayaan-4).
- The SpaDeX mission was launched on December 30, 2024, aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C60 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
Main Point :- (i) The satellites, SDX-01 (Chaser) and SDX-02 (Target), were designed and developed by the Bengaluru-based U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) with support from multiple ISRO centers.
(ii) Each satellite weighed 220 kilograms (kg) and was launched into orbit to test space docking capabilities. The docking was successfully carried out on January 16, 2025, demonstrating India's growing expertise in orbital maneuvers.
(iii) The de-docking process involved a series of planned operations, including the extension of SDX-02, the release of Capture Lever 3, the final disengagement of the Capture Lever, and decapture commands, resulting in flawless separation.
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