THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India has achieved another milestone in its pursuit of emerging as a global power in space exploration. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) made history on Thursday by docking two satellites orbiting Earth. The success of the Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission makes India the fourth country to accomplish this feat, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China.
The crucial docking took place early on Thursday. Two satellites, Chaser and Target, each weighing 220 kilograms, were successfully docked at an altitude of 476 kilometres above Earth. These satellites were launched on December 30 aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket. This success marks a major step toward India's dream of establishing its own space station. It also boosts missions like Gaganyaan, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space, and Chandrayaan-4, which plans to collect and study lunar surface samples.
The final docking operation was performed yesterday after conducting trial runs on January 6 and 9. Space docking is the process of one spacecraft 'reaching out' and physically joining another. ISRO employed the Androgynous Docking technique, which allows either spacecraft to act as the "Chaser" (follower) or the "Target" (stationary). ISRO's new chairman, Dr. V. Narayanan, confirmed the mission's success.
Crucial stages
Achievements
December 30: Launch of twin docking satellites.
January 6: Satellites were maneuvered from a distance of 20 km to 500 meters.
January 9: Gradual approach reduced the distance to 3 meters.
January 11: First docking attempt halted due to signal interference.
January 16: Docking successfully completed.
Cost of SPADEX- Rs 125 crore
India accomplished this feat at the lowest cost, further cementing its reputation for cost-effective space missions.