ISRO Successfully Launches One-Of-Its-Kind SPADEX Mission; Here’s What To Expect Next

ISRO’s space docking experiment or SPADEX mission successfully launched on December 30. The PSLV-C60 rocket lifted off at the scheduled time of 10 pm IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. About 16 minutes post liftoff, ISRO announced the successful separation of the two SPADEX satellites.

The primary payloads of the missions are two satellites that will demonstrate autonomous space docking technology in the low-Earth orbit.

Privileged to be associated with the Department of Space at a time when Team #ISRO mesmerises the world with global wonders, one after the other.
India becomes the fourth to join the select league of nations to seek Space docking, through its own indigenously developed “Bharatiya… pic.twitter.com/N9o7qID8z4
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) December 30, 2024

The rocket also carried 24 other payloads to space, 14 of which belong to ISRO and Department of space while the rest are from major institutions across India.

Objectives of SPADEX mission

SPADEX is meant to validate technology required to mate two spacecrafts in orbit. In a statement, ISRO said that the primary missions objectives are demonstrating docking, transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, composite spacecraft control and payload operations after undocking of the satellites.

🎥 Relive the Liftoff! 🚀

Experience the majestic PSLV-C60 launch carrying SpaDeX and groundbreaking payloads. Enjoy breathtaking images of this milestone in India’s space journey! 🌌✨#SpaDeX #PSLV #ISRO

📍 @DrJitendraSingh pic.twitter.com/PWdzY0B7nQ
— ISRO (@isro) December 30, 2024

The two satellites are Chaser and Target weighing 220 kg each. They will be deployed into a 470 km circular orbit at 55 degrees inclination, separated by a distance of 20 kilometres.

Since the objective is to test autonomous docking between them, the Chaser will eventually reduce its distance from the Target. ISRO says the docking will take place 10 days after launch.

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Once the docking is complete, ISRO will demonstrate the electrical power transfer between the Chaser and Target. They will then separate and carry out experiments with their respective payloads over the next two years. Some of these payloads include studying seed germination and plant growth in microgravity.

Achieving in-orbit docking of two spacecrafts is crucial for the development of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station. ISRO has aimed to launch the first station module by 2028 and complete the structure by joining multiple modules by 2035. It’s the same mechanism that spacecrafts of SpaceX and Northrop Grumman use to dock at the International Space Station.

This docking experiment will also be used in Chandrayaan-4, the sample collection Moon mission targeted for launch later this decade.

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(Image: ISRO)