ISRO achieves historic satellite docking milestone

Bengaluru

India’s space program has reached a significant milestone with ISRO's successful docking of two satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX). On January 16, ISRO confirmed that after the docking, control of both satellites was successfully achieved as a single object.

This achievement places India alongside the United States, Russia, and China as the only countries to have mastered satellite docking technology. Docking plays a critical role in space missions where multiple rockets are required for common objectives, such as those planned for India’s future space endeavors.

The successful docking will benefit missions like Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, and the establishment of India’s own space station, the “Bharatiya Antriksh Station,” set for completion by 2035. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO for its accomplishment, calling it a vital step for India’s ambitious space program.

The mission was launched on December 30, 2024, aboard the PSLV C60 rocket, carrying two small satellites—SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target)—to a 475-km orbit. The docking experiment will enable India to manage multiple satellites as a single unit, facilitating smoother operations for upcoming missions. Following the successful docking, ISRO will proceed with further tests, including undocking and power transfer checks.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh also celebrated the achievement, emphasizing that this success, along with the Bharatiya Docking System, strengthens the country’s position in space exploration.