India Launches SpaDeX Mission to Demonstrate Space Docking Technology

ISRO's groundbreaking experiment aims to position India among an elite group of nations with autonomous orbital docking capabilities.

ISRO successfully launched the SpaDeX mission aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket from Sriharikota, deploying two spacecraft into a 476 km orbit.
The mission's key objective is to demonstrate autonomous orbital rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two satellites, a technology mastered by only three other nations.
The docking maneuver, planned for early January, will involve one spacecraft acting as a 'chaser' and the other as a 'target,' both guided by advanced sensors and algorithms.
SpaDeX is a critical step for India's future space ambitions, including satellite servicing, space station assembly, and interplanetary exploration.
The mission also features the POEM-4 platform, utilizing the rocket's fourth stage for microgravity experiments and showcasing India's private space sector contributions.