The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has marked a significant milestone with the successful undocking of its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) today, a critical step toward future missions like Chandrayaan-4 and more.
In their post on X, ISRO detailed the step-by-step process that led to the experiment’s success. It began with the SDX-2 extension, followed by the planned release of the capture lever 3. The capture lever in SDX-2 was then disengaged, and the de-capture command was issued for both satellites.
Union Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, expressed his congratulations on X, praising the ISRO team for their achievements. He highlighted the significance of the undocking, calling it “heartening for every Indian,” and noted that it sets the stage for ambitious future missions, including the Bharatiya Antriksha Station, Chandrayaan-4, and Gaganyaan. He also acknowledged the continuous support of PM Narendra Modi in boosting the morale of ISRO’s teams.
The Space Docking Experiment mission was launched on December 30, 2024, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The two satellites involved, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), were successfully docked on January 16.
India’s achievement places it as the fourth country to successfully complete space docking, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia, and China. This accomplishment marks a major advancement in India’s space capabilities.
