​ISRO Successfully Completes SpaDeX Mission

• 31 Dec 2024

On 30th December, 2024, ISRO successfully completed its groundbreaking SpaDeX mission, docking two satellites in space. This achievement marks India’s entry into a rare and complex technology domain, positioning it alongside global space leaders like Russia, the U.S., and China.

Key Points

Mission Objectives

• Demonstrating precision manoeuvres to rendezvous and dock the satellites.

• Validating the transfer of electrical power between docked spacecraft.
• Operating payloads post-undocking, with a mission life of up to two years.

Mission Overview

• SpaDEX deployed two identical satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, at an altitude of 470 kilometers above Earth.

Rocket and Satellites

• A PSLV rocket successfully carried two satellites, each weighing about 220 kg, into orbit.

Docking Mechanism

• The Bhartiya Docking System was used for docking, meeting NASA’s International Docking System Standard (IDSS).

Speed and Precision

• The satellites, traveling at 28,800 km/h, slowed down to just 0.036 km/h, allowing for a precise and smooth docking process.

Complexity

• Docking two satellites autonomously in space proved to be an immense challenge, requiring precise calculations to avoid collisions while ensuring both satellites stayed in orbit.

India’s First

• ISRO developed the Bhartiya Docking System entirely in-house, as no other country shared the detailed technology required for the process.