New Delhi: With the successful docking of the satellites of the SpaDEX mission, India became the fourth nation to ace the space docking technology, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has said. The space agency informed the merging of two small spacecraft — SDX01, the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target — weighing about 220 kg each. The satellites were part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, which lifted off aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, from Sriharikota on December 30.
India is now the fourth country, after the US, Russia, and China, to master the docking technology. Dr V Narayanan, Secretary DOS, Chairman of Space Commission, and Chairman ISRO, congratulated the team. The docking technology was indigenously developed and has been named the ‘Bharatiya Docking System’. ISRO believes the SpaDeX mission will help establish India's capability in orbital docking — a key technology for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the successful docking of the satellites of the SpaDEX mission is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come. "Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites," PM Modi said in a post on X social media platform.
Meanwhile, ahead of upcoming space missions, the Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Modi, has approved the establishment of the Third Launch Pad (TLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre of ISRO at Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The launch pad is expected to be developed at a cost of Rs 3,984.86 crore in the coming four years.
While India currently has two launch pads, it cannot support the new generation of heavier launch vehicles — critical for upcoming space missions including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS) by 2035 and an Indian Crewed Lunar Landing by 2040.
