ISRO has successfully demonstrated space docking capability by joining together two spacecrafts (each weighing about 220 kg) in space.
Space docking creates an airtight passage for safe transfer of material or crew between two spacecrafts. This is a critical technology for building space station and missions to moon.
The SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) mission of ISRO comprised of two spacecrafts SDX01 (or the Chaser) and SDX02 (or the Target). It was launched on a single rocket on 30 December 2024. The two spacecrafts were placed in space with different velocities to allow them to be at a distance of 10 to 20 km.
On 16 January 2025, the two spacecrafts were manoeuvred to reduce distance between them. The Chaser gradually approached the Target, their connectors latched together, and the two spacecraft were screwed on creating an airtight passage for safe transfer of material or crew, completing space docking.
This makes India fourth country after United States, Russia and China to have a proven space docking technology.
Next step will be transfer of electrical power from the Chaser spacecraft to the Target spacecraft demonstrating ability to send spacecrafts to service another spacecraft in space. The final step will be demonstration of undocking and separation of the two spacecrafts.
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Sources:
- ISRO. Press release- SpaDeX Mission. Available at https://www.isro.gov.in/mission_SpaDeX.html
- ISRO. SPADEX Mission Brochure. Available at https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/Missions/PSLVC60/PSLVC60-mission-brochure-english.pdf
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