India Becomes the Fourth Country to Achieve Space Docking

 India Becomes the Fourth Country to Achieve Space Docking

India has become the fourth country in the world to successfully perform space docking, which involves the joining of two fast-moving satellites in space. The docking was carried out using two small spacecraft: SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission. The US, Russia, and China are the other three countries that have achieved this feat.

About the SpaDeX Mission:

• Background: The SpaDeX mission, along with the 24 PS4-Orbital Experiment Module (POEM-4) payloads, was launched by ISRO aboard the PSLV-C60 from the Sriharikota space center in December 2024.
• Mission Goal:
  • To develop and demonstrate the technology for rendezvous and autonomous docking using two small spacecraft (SDX01 and SDX02).
  • After docking, the mission will evaluate the controllability of the combined system, ensuring stability and maneuvering the docked spacecraft as a unified entity.
  • It will demonstrate the potential to extend the operational life of the target spacecraft.
  • Power transfer between the docked spacecraft will also be tested.
• Mission Life: The mission will operate for up to two years following the docking operations.

Use of Indigenous Technologies:

• Inter-satellite Communication Link (ISL): For autonomous communication between the spacecraft.
• GNSS-Based Novel Relative Orbit Determination and Propagation (RODP) Processor: To determine the relative position and velocity of other spacecraft.
• Other indigenous technologies developed for the mission include the docking mechanism, sensor suite, and autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy.

Significance of the SpaDeX Mission:

• Crucial for India's Space Ambitions: The technology demonstrated is essential for India’s future space goals, such as sample return missions from the Moon and the development of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).
• Satellite Servicing and Maintenance: Space docking facilitates satellite servicing and refueling, potentially extending the operational life of spacecraft.
• Support for Future Space Missions: This technology is crucial when multiple rocket launches are needed to achieve shared mission objectives.
• Other Applications: Future uses of this technology could include in-space robotics, natural resource monitoring, vegetation studies, and more.

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