India Joins Elite Group of Spacefaring Nations with Successful SpaDeX Mission
India has successfully launched the PSLV-C60 rocket carrying the innovative Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, marking a significant milestone in the country’s space exploration journey. The mission was launched from Sriharikota on December 30, with the objective of demonstrating a cost-effective and innovative docking technology using two small spacecraft.
The PSLV rocket carried two satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), each weighing around 220 kg. These satellites successfully docked in a low-Earth orbit, accomplishing the mission’s primary goal. ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath congratulated the entire PSLV and SpaDeX teams for their contributions, highlighting the success of the mission which met all the set objectives.
“The docking process will be completed in another week, with a nominal time expected around the 7th of January. The solar panels for the satellites have been successfully deployed,” Somanath said following the launch.
The mission also carries 24 payloads from academic institutions, startups, and research laboratories, further strengthening India’s position in space innovation. Somanath emphasized the importance of these payloads, which are expected to undergo testing in the coming months.
With this successful docking demonstration, India has joined an elite group of spacefaring nations, becoming the fourth country—after the United States, Russia, and China—to achieve this technology. The development of the ‘Bharatiya Docking System’ positions India as a key player in the future of space missions, including the ambitious Gaganyaan human spaceflight and the upcoming Bharatiya Antriksha Station.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised the achievement, stating, “This technology will pave the way for India’s journey beyond the skies, enabling future space missions such as Gaganyaan and the Bharatiya Antriksha Station.”
The SpaDeX mission is poised to establish India’s capabilities in orbital docking, a critical technology for human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions in the future.
