India Achieves Historic Space Milestone with Successful Unmanned Docking
India has become the fourth country to successfully achieve unmanned docking in space, a crucial step in its ambition to become a global space power. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) conducted a Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) involving two small spacecraft, Target and Chaser, which were deployed into low-earth orbit on December 30. The two spacecraft, weighing about 220 kilograms each, successfully conducted a rendezvous and docking on Thursday.
The achievement is significant for future space missions, as it demonstrates India’s capability to develop and test complex space technologies. The in-docking technology will be crucial for satellite servicing, multiple rocket launches, and even human spaceflight. The docked spacecraft will also demonstrate the transfer of electric power between them, a critical component for operating in-space robotics and payload operations.
The successful docking comes after a trial attempt on Sunday, where the two satellites approached each other in orbit before retreating to a safe distance. The experiment was postponed twice due to technical issues and spacecraft drifting beyond expected distances.
India’s space ambitions have accelerated under current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has emphasized the need for self-sufficiency in space technology. The country plans to launch its first crewed mission to space in the next few years and put an astronaut on the moon by 2040. India also aims to build its own space station by 2035 and launch its first orbital mission to Venus in 2028.
The success of the Space Docking Experiment paves the way for India’s future space endeavors, including its lunar missions, such as the return of moon samples in 2027. The experiment also demonstrates India’s growing capabilities in commercializing its space sector, with private companies playing a significant role in building and launching small satellites into low-Earth orbit.