NEW DELHI: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will restart tests for its SpaDeX mission in mid-March. The goal is to separate two satellites namely CHASER and TARGET, and then reconnect them in space. This will help ISRO develop key technologies for future space missions.
The SpaDeX mission was first launched on December 30 last year, placing two satellites by names SDX01 and SDX02,into orbit to test space docking. After multiple tries, ISRO successfully docked the satellites on January 16.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan shared that the next set of experiments will begin on March 15. "The satellites are currently in an elliptical orbit, which gives us a testing window of 10-15 days every two months," he said during an event in New Delhi.
He added, "Right now, we are running simulations to test separation and re-docking. We have planned out the steps and will begin real experiments from March 15."
Before the mission launch, ISRO had stated that after docking and securing the satellites together, they would test the transfer of electrical power between them before separating again.
Narayanan said that there are more experiments lined up after two months, as there is still plenty of fuel available onboard.
The SpaDeX mission is a major step for India’s future space projects, including Chandrayaan-4 and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), which will rely on docking technology.
This mission is a cost-effective way to test in-space docking, which is crucial for India’s space plans, such as sending humans to the Moon, bringing back samples, and building a space station. Upon successful, India will mark world's the 4th country to achieve space docking technology.
Key Goals of the SpaDeX Mission:
Develop and test the process of satellite rendezvous, docking, and undocking in low-Earth orbit.
Demonstrate the transfer of electrical power between the docked satellites, which is important for future space robotics.
Improve spacecraft control and test payload operations after undocking.
How the Mission Works:
The SpaDeX mission includes two small satellites (about 220 kg each) launched by the PSLV-C60 rocket. They were placed in a 470 km orbit with a 55° inclination. Once released, the satellites slowly drift apart, reaching a separation of 10-20 km in a day. The Target satellite then adjusts its speed to stabilize its position before docking with the Chaser.