To mark a significant stride toward establishing India’s space station and interplanetary ventures, ISRO is gearing up to launch the SpaDeX mission on December 30 at 9:58 PM from Sriharikota using the PSLV-C60 rocket. This mission is designed to develop and showcase cost-effective space docking and undocking technologies, a crucial capability for India’s ambitious space goals.
Once successful, India will join an elite group of four nations with space docking technology. The SpaDeX mission will utilize two small spacecraft, Target and Chaser, each weighing about 220 kg, which will be launched into a 470 km circular orbit at a 55° inclination. The PSLV-C60’s precision will create a small velocity difference between the two, enabling the Target spacecraft to establish a 10-20 km separation from Chaser within 24 hours.
The mission’s critical docking sequence involves reducing the inter-satellite distance through phases: 5 km, 1.5 km, 500 m, 225 m, 15 m, and 3 m, ultimately achieving docking. Post-docking, the satellites will demonstrate power transfer and later separate to independently operate their payloads for up to two years.
ISRO highlighted that SpaDeX technology is pivotal for missions like manned Moon landings, lunar sample retrieval, and developing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station. Additionally, the PSLV-C60’s fourth stage (POEM) will carry 24 payloads, including 14 from ISRO centers and 10 from academic institutions and startups, underscoring collaboration in India’s space advancements.
This launch signifies a leap toward realizing India’s ambitions as a global space leader, with docking technology laying the groundwork for future interplanetary missions and a permanent space station.
