Video: Watch the moment Isro’s SpaDeX satellites docked
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Friday achieved a significant milestone after it successfully performed the docking of two satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) and announced that post docking, control of two satellites as a single object was also achieved.
With this feat, India became the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to successfully dock two satellites — SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) — in space. On Friday evening, the Indian space agency released a video that showed visuals of the exact moment when the two satellites were docked in the wee hours of January 16.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW
“India docked its name in space history! Good Morning India ISRO’s SpaDeX mission accomplishes historic docking success. Proud to witness this moment!”, ISRO said in a post on X soon after accomplishing the technological feat.
Docking technology plays a critical role in space missions, especially when multiple rocket launches are needed to accomplish shared objectives.
This technology is critical for the success of India’s ambitious upcoming ventures, such as Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, the establishment of a space station, and the historic goal of landing an astronaut on the moon. India plans to have its own Space Station by 2035, known as the “Bharatiya Antriksh Station”.
The achievement was also hailed by several politicians, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heaped praise on Isro and thanked the scientists.
“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,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
“Post docking, control of two satellites as a single object is successful. Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days,” he added.
Last week, Isro brought the two spacecraft to three metres and then moved them back to safe distance in its trial attempt to dock the satellites.
