ISRO completes SpaDeX docking; India becomes fourth country to dock spacecraft in orbit
ISRO docked the two SpaDeX satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, in the early hours of 16 January 2025, making India the fourth country after the USA, Russia and China to achieve space docking.
Summary
ISRO successfully docked the two Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), in the early hours of 16 January 2025, making India the fourth country, after the USA, Russia and China, to achieve space docking. The satellites, each weighing about 220 kg, were launched on PSLV-C60, the 62nd PSLV flight, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 30 December 2024. The spacecraft moved from the 15-metre to the 3-metre hold point, docked, retracted and rigidised, after which the two were controlled as a single object. Undocking and power-transfer checks were to follow. SpaDeX is a technology demonstrator for future missions such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
Key facts
- Docked
- Early hours of 16 January 2025
- Satellites
- SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), ~220 kg each
- Launch
- PSLV-C60 (62nd PSLV flight), 30 December 2024, Sriharikota
- Global rank
- India fourth, after USA, Russia, China
- Sequence
- 15 m to 3 m hold point, capture, retraction, rigidisation
- Next steps
- Undocking and power-transfer checks
Practice MCQs 4 questions
With the SpaDeX docking on 16 January 2025, India became which country in the world to achieve space docking?
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Correct answer: B — Fourth
PIB (DoS): India became the fourth country to achieve space docking; The Hindu: after the USA, Russia and China.
Which launch vehicle carried the SpaDeX satellites into orbit on 30 December 2024?
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Correct answer: D — PSLV-C60
PIB: ISRO launched the SpaDeX spacecraft on PSLV-C60 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 30 December 2024.
In the SpaDeX mission, which satellite acted as the 'Chaser'?
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Correct answer: B — SDX01
ISRO and PIB: the two satellites are SDX01, the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target, each weighing about 220 kg.
Consider the following statements about the SpaDeX mission: 1. Each of the two SpaDeX satellites weighs about 220 kg. 2. The docking sequence moved the spacecraft from a 15-metre to a 3-metre hold point before capture. 3. Power transfer between the docked spacecraft was completed on the same day as docking. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 and 2 only
PIB (DoS): each satellite weighs about 220 kg and the spacecraft moved from the 15 m to the 3 m hold point before capture. Undocking and power-transfer checks were scheduled for the coming days, not done on 16 January.