India Creates History With SpaDeX Mission As It Becomes Fourth Nation To Achieve Space-Docking Feat

ISRO successfully conducted a historic space docking experiment, making India the fourth country to achieve this feat.

PSLV-C60, the launch vehicle of India's SpaDeX mission, ahead of its lift off, in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Source : PTI

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday said that the two satellites which were launched by it to perform a space docking experiment has been successfully completed.

Giving update about the historic moment, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of ISRO  posted, "Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment.

Let’s walk through the SpaDeX docking process:

Manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed. Docking initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture. Retraction completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability. Docking successfully completed.

India became the 4th country to achieve successful Space Docking.

Congratulations to the entire team! Congratulations to India!"

SpaDeX Docking Update:

🌟Docking Success

Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment.

Let’s walk through the SpaDeX docking process:

Manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point completed. Docking initiated with precision, leading to successful spacecraft capture.…

— ISRO (@isro) January 16, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media and congratulated the scientists of ISRO for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. In a post, he said, "Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come."

Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2025

On January 12, ISRO said that the two satellites which were launched by it to perform a space docking experiment have attempted a trial run and reached up to 15 metres and further to 3 metres. Following this, the spacecraft was moved to a safe distance.

ISRO launched the SpaDeX mission on December 30, which aims to demonstrate in-space docking using small spacecraft.