India has made history by becoming the fourth country in the world to achieve unmanned docking in space, a significant milestone that solidifies its position as a global space power. The successful docking, carried out by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), marks a pivotal moment in India's space exploration journey.
The mission, named the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex), involved deploying two small spacecraft, Target and Chaser, into low-earth orbit. These spacecraft, weighing about 220 kilograms each, were launched aboard an Indian-made PSLV rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Andhra Pradesh state on December 30.
Minister for Space Jitendra Singh hailed the SpaDex mission as the beginning of a new era in space exploration, showcasing India's technological prowess and ambition. The successful docking is a crucial step towards India's future space endeavors, including satellite servicing and complex missions requiring multiple rocket launches.
ISRO emphasized the importance of domestically developed docking technology for achieving ambitious goals such as sending an Indian national to the moon, establishing a space station, and returning lunar samples. This technology enables the transfer of materials between spacecraft, facilitating operations like payload delivery and in-space robotics.
During the mission, the docked spacecraft will demonstrate the transfer of electric power between them, essential for future spacecraft control and payload operations. The successful docking followed a trial attempt where the spacecraft were brought within 3 meters of each other before moving back to a safe distance.
India's space ambitions have gained momentum under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, with recent achievements including the Chandrayaan-3 mission landing on the moon and plans for a crewed mission and a moon landing by 2040. The country also aims to build its own space station by 2035 and launch an orbital mission to Venus in 2028.
Furthermore, India has focused on commercializing its space sector, allowing private enterprise and foreign investment to drive innovation and cost-effective satellite launches. The successful docking experiment, integrated and tested at private company Ananth Technologies, highlights India's commitment to advancing its space capabilities.
