ISRO’S SpaDeX Mission Launched, Gears Up for Chandrayaan-4 and Gaganyaan
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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the highly anticipated Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, marking a pivotal step in India’s journey to advance in-space docking technology. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carried two 220-kilogram satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), into low Earth orbit in a textbook launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch also included 24 other scientific experiments.
The SpaDeX mission is designed to demonstrate and refine the critical process of orbital docking, a capability essential for crewed space missions, space station assembly, and future lunar expeditions such as Chandrayaan-4 and the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). Over the next 10 days, the two spacecraft will gradually close the gap between them, performing intricate maneuvers under the management of ISRO’s Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Network (ISTRAC). If successful, SpaDeX will position India as the fourth nation in the world to achieve space docking, underscoring its growing capabilities in advanced space exploration.
This mission also carries advanced payloads to collect crucial radiation data, supporting India’s ambitions for human spaceflight through the Gaganyaan program. ISRO chief S. Somanath lauded the PSLV’s precision in deploying the satellites and highlighted the mission’s significance for India’s future in space.
