Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Dec 28: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS, PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh informed here today that (Indian Space Research Organisation) ISRO’s year-end mission scheduled for 30th December is going to be a historic one as it will seek the rare feat of docking or merging or joining together two satellites in Space. The project has been named “Space Docking Experiment” (SpaDeX), he said.
The whole nation looks forward with bated breath as ISRO is set to achieve a significant milestone in Space technology, said the Minister in the Department of Space.
In an exclusive media interview, Dr Jitendra Singh elaborated that the upcoming SpaDeX mission aims to dock two satellites in Space, a challenge only mastered by a few countries. This ambitious project will take place on December 30, 2024, under the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) and the indigenous technology used for this mission is called the “Bharatiya Docking System”.
“SpaDeX” will mark a milestone, showcasing India’s expertise in spacecraft docking technology.
This mission, said Dr Jitendra Singh, will mark India’s entry into the exclusive league of nations capable of mastering space docking. A unique approach, the PSLV rocket, will launch two satellites equipped with the ‘Bhartiya Docking System’ to demonstrate this complex feat, he added.
The success of this mission is vital for India’s future space ambitions, said the Minister. Docking technology is key for long-term missions like “Chandrayaan-4” and the planned Indian space station. It is also crucial for the eventual manned “Gaganyaan” mission.
In the near vacuum of Space, the handout said, ISRO will attempt to dock two satellites orbiting at speeds of 28,800 km/h. This is a challenging task, as both satellites must be carefully manoeuvred to reduce their relative velocities to a mere 0.036 km/h. The two satellites, designated ‘Chaser’ and ‘Target’, will merge to form a single unit in Space.
ISRO’s achievement will place India among the world’s space leaders, marking a step towards greater space exploration and innovation. SpaDeX is a significant milestone that paves the way for more complex space missions in the coming years. ISRO’s SpaDeX mission is set to launch on Dec 30, 2024, will demonstrate India’s Spacecraft Docking technology, marking a crucial step in space exploration and satellite servicing capabilities.
India is preparing for a key step in space exploration. ISRO will launch the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) on December 30, 2024. The mission will use PSLV-C60, lifting off at 21:58 IST from Sriharikota. SpaDEX marks a milestone, showcasing India’s expertise in spacecraft docking technology.
SpaDEX will deploy two identical satellites, SDX01 and SDX02. Each satellite weighs around 220 kilograms and will orbit 470 km above Earth. Key objectives include performing precision rendezvous and docking manoeuvres, Validating power transfer between docked spacecraft and Operating payloads post-undocking, with a two-year lifespan.
This mission is essential for future endeavours, including satellite servicing and building India’s space station, Bharatiya Antriksh Station.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
