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ISRO’s SpaDeX Mission: Key Space Docking Experiment Set to Launch Today

On Monday, December 30, the PSLV-C60 rocket will launch the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) ambitious Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex). This innovative mission is a significant step toward India’s objective of becoming an expert in in-space docking technology, which is necessary for next satellite maintenance and human spaceflight missions.

Revised Launch Timing

A minor rescheduling of the launch was just revealed by ISRO. The liftoff from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, which was originally scheduled for 9:58 PM, is now scheduled for 10 PM. The cause of the two-minute delay has not been revealed by the space agency.

“Today is Launch Day. PSLV-C60 with SpaDex and novel payloads is scheduled to blast off tonight at exactly 10 PM, ISRO stated in an update.

What is Space Docking?

Connecting two spacecraft in orbit is known as space docking, and it is an essential technology for large-scale projects like transporting people to the moon, gathering samples from the moon, and constructing India’s own space station, Bharatiya Antariksh Station. India will join a select few countries—China, Russia, and the United States—that can dock in space if SpaDex is successful. Additionally, complicated missions involving several rocket launches with common goals would be supported by this capacity.

SpaDex Mission Details

Spacecraft A (SDX01) and Spacecraft B (SDX02) are the two main payloads that the PSLV-C60 will transport, along with 24 auxiliary payloads. At an initial height of around 470 kilometers, the two spacecraft will be positioned 5 kilometers apart. Before combining the two spacecraft, ISRO scientists will try to cut this gap to only 3 meters over the course of the next 10–14 days.

A high-resolution camera is a feature of Spacecraft A.
The Miniature Multispectral Payload and the Radiation Monitor Payload are carried by Spacecraft B.

Applications such as vegetation research, high-resolution imaging, and natural resource monitoring will be made possible by these tools.

Why is SpaDex Significant?

An affordable example of in-space docking technology, SpaDex is essential to India’s space aspirations. with addition to aiding with the construction of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, it will open the door for next deep-space and lunar exploration projects.

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A Milestone Mission for 2024

The PSLV-C60 is ISRO’s last mission of the year and the first vehicle to be fully integrated at the recently constructed PSLV Integration Facility. India is still moving toward advanced space technology, and SpaDex is only one example of ISRO’s unwavering commitment to innovation.