2024 was a year of remarkable achievements for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). In a significant milestone, ISRO launched PSLV-C60 with SpaDeX and innovative payloads from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. With this success, India paces to become the fourth nation to master space docking.
What is the Space Docking Experiment?
ISRO's year-end mission is historic as it seeks the rare feat of docking or merging or joining together two satellites in space. The project has been named "Space Docking Experiment" (SpaDeX).
This is a massive experiment called the Space Docking Experiment, which will connect two satellites in Earth orbit. The aim of this experiment is to develop the technology to dock and undock spacecraft in space. The main objective of this mission is to dock two small space-crafts launched by PSLV with each other in space. ISRO said that the target and chaser satellites will weigh 440 kg.
SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV. The primary objective of the SpaxDex mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft (SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target, nominally) in a low-Earth circular orbit.
Indigenous Technology
The technological challenge has been mastered only by a few countries and the indigenous technology used for this mission is called the "Bharatiya Docking System". "The success of this mission is vital for India's future space ambitions," Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh had said earlier. 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.
Highlights of ISRO's Success Journey in 2024
· Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX): The year culminated with the successful launch of ISRO's Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on December 30, 2024. This marked India's entry into the elite club of nations capable of performing complex space docking maneuvers, a crucial step towards future space station endeavors and satellite servicing capabilities.
· XPoSat Launch: The year began with the successful launch of the PSLV-C58 carrying the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). This marked India's entry into space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emissions, making it only the second nation after NASA to undertake such a mission.
· Aditya-L1's L1 Orbit Arrival: Following its launch in 2023, India's maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1, successfully reached the L1 point on January 6, 2024. This significant milestone positioned the spacecraft in a halo orbit around L1, allowing for continuous and undisturbed observation of the Sun.
· Proba-3 Launch: On December 5, 2024, ISRO successfully launched the Proba-3 mission, a joint venture with the European Space Agency (ESA). This mission aims to study the Sun's corona and improve space weather forecasting.
