ISRO SpaDeX: Second Satellite Docking Completed
Why in the news
ISRO re-docked the two SpaDeX satellites, strengthening India’s base for long-duration and crewed space missions.
Timeline
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Launch (PSLV-C60) | 30 December 2024 |
| First docking | 16 January 2025 |
| Undocking | 13 March 2025 |
| Second docking | Announced 21 April 2025 |
Key facts
- Satellites: SDX01 chaser, SDX02 target.
- Skills shown: autonomous rendezvous, docking, undocking, re-docking and power transfer in low-Earth orbit.
- Global rank: fourth nation with satellite docking.
- Further experiments were planned within two weeks.
Future uses
- Gaganyaan and crewed lunar missions.
- In-space assembly, maintenance and station operations.
- Sample return missions.
Exam angle
- Mission: Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX).
- Launcher: PSLV-C60.