ISRO SpaDeX Undocking Completed: Satellites Separate in Orbit
Why in the news
About two months after docking two satellites, ISRO separated them on March 14, 2025, completing the core of the Space Docking Experiment.
Key facts
- Undocking time: March 14, 2025, 9:20 a.m.; tracked from Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mauritius stations.
- Orbit: 460 km circular, 45-degree inclination; both satellites healthy.
- ISRO demonstrated rendezvous, docking and undocking, putting India alongside the US, Russia and China.
Mission timeline
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launch | December 30, 2024, PSLV C60 |
| Docking | January 16, 2025 |
| Satellites | SDX01 (Chaser), SDX02 (Target) |
Objectives and significance
- Build docking and undocking technology, plus power transfer between docked craft.
- Supports sending Indian astronauts to the Moon, lunar sample return and an Indian Space Station.
- More experiments with the separated satellites will follow.
Exam angle
- Launch vehicle: PSLV C60.
- Chaser: SDX01; Target: SDX02.