ISRO's new space achievement: Historic success in SpaDeX undocking
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has achieved another significant milestone in space by completing the undocking process in the SpaDeX mission. Under this mission, ISRO had earlier achieved a historic feat by joining two separate satellites in space. Now, these satellites have been successfully separated, setting a new milestone in India's space technology. Such experiments will continue in the future, which will prove to be an important step towards deep space missions and the establishment of an indigenous space station.
Key sequence of events
- SDX-2 extension successful
- Capture Lever 3 released as planned
- Capture Lever in SDX-2 disengaged
- Decapture command issued in SDX-1 & SDX-2
The SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for demonstrating docking in space using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV. This technology is essential for India's space ambitions such as the Indian Space Zone on the Moon, sample return from the Moon, construction and operation of Indian Space Station (BAS), etc. In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
The primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology required for rendezvous, docking and undocking of two small spacecraft (SDX01, named Chaser, and SDX02, named Target) in low Earth circular orbit.
Secondary objectives include demonstration of electrical power transfer between docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as space robotics. Overall spacecraft control. Payload operations after undocking.
