The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved a major milestone with the successful completion of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX). Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed on X this Monday that the second satellite docking was successfully carried out.
The docking and undocking of the SpaDeX satellites were completed in a 460-kilometre circular orbit with a 45-degree inclination, all accomplished in a single attempt. This successful demonstration highlights ISRO’s precision and advanced capabilities in space technology. The achievement is expected to play a crucial role in future missions involving orbital docking and spacecraft manoeuvres.
ISRO’s success in this mission is set to have far-reaching implications for India’s future space programmes. As ISRO Chairman V Narayanan emphasized, “The results will benefit future missions like Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, and the Indian space station.” The SpaDeX mission not only demonstrates ISRO’s growing proficiency in complex space operations but also strengthens its standing in the global space arena.
Launched on December 30, 2024, using the PSLV-C60 rocket, the mission deployed two satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), into a 475-kilometre circular orbit. On January 16, 2025, at 06:20 am, the first successful docking occurred, making India the fourth nation after the United States, Russia, and China to achieve this technological feat.
Described as a “cost-effective technology demonstrator mission,” SpaDeX focused on demonstrating in-space docking with two small spacecraft. The mission involved complex orbital rendezvous, docking, and proximity maneuvers, which were further validated when the satellites successfully undocked on March 13, 2025, at 09:20 am.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed that more experiments related to the SpaDeX mission are scheduled, noting, “As previously mentioned, the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission was successfully launched on December 30, 2024. The satellites docked for the first time on January 16, 2025, and undocked on March 13, 2025. Additional experiments are set for the next two weeks.” These upcoming tests will further refine and enhance ISRO’s capabilities in orbital operations.
With the successful completion of the SpaDeX mission, ISRO has proven its ability to perform rendezvous, docking, and undocking operations in orbit. This accomplishment sets a solid foundation for ISRO’s future space explorations, including Chandrayaan 4, Gaganyaan, and the potential Indian space station, with the insights gained from SpaDeX playing a vital role in ensuring the success of these ambitious projects.
