An important update on the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) project has been released by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). The two SpaDeX satellites, called SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), are now in orbit at an Inter Satellite Distance (ISD) of 230 meters as of January 11, 2025. ISRO has verified that both spacecraft are in normal health and that all sensors are being assessed.
The satellites’ original 1.5-kilometer range has been successfully lowered to 230 meters.
With continuous assessments of all onboard sensors, ISRO stated that the spacecraft’s condition is steady.
Technical difficulties have caused the docking efforts to be repeatedly postponed. After the initial attempt, which was originally planned for January 7, was postponed to January 9, additional modifications were needed to guarantee safe maneuvering and docking conditions.
The goal of the SpaDeX mission is to showcase vital spacecraft rendezvous and docking technologies that are necessary for next space missions, such as:
This mission is very important since it places India in a select group of nations that have developed autonomous docking technology in space, joining the US, Russia, and China.
ISRO is still keeping a careful eye on the issue even though they haven’t set a new deadline for the docking attempt yet. Through a series of carefully timed maneuvers, the Chaser satellite will gradually approach the Target satellite in the upcoming phases.
The successful completion of this mission will contribute to India’s aspirations for future lunar and interplanetary exploration projects and represent a significant milestone in the country’s space capabilities.
