The two satellites launched by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) came closer for an “exciting handshake”, the space agency said early Sunday, January 12. The two satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), are in good condition. and prepare to conduct the crucial docking experiment in space.
“At 15 meters we see each other more and more clearly, we are only 15 meters away for an exciting handshake,” ISRO said in a message on X.
In another post on X, ISRO published “stunning” images of the two satellites in space. “SpaDeX satellites hold their position at 15 meters and take beautiful photos and videos of each other!” said ISRO.
The ISRO later said that a trial attempt had been made to reach up to 15 meters and further up to 3 meters. “Returning spacecraft to a safe distance. The linking process will be carried out after further analyzing the data,” it added.
Crucial docking mission
The SpaDex mission, launched on December 30 by ISRO, aims to demonstrate docking in space using small spacecraft.
The PSLV C60 rocket carrying the two 220-kilogram satellites – Chaser and Target – lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, placing the spacecraft in a circular orbit of 475 kilometers.
How will the docking process take place in space?
The two small spacecraft were launched independently and simultaneously by PSLV-C60 into a circular orbit of 470 km with an inclination of 55°.
The ISRO said there was a small relative velocity between the Target and Chaser spacecraft at the time of separation from the launch vehicle.
This increasing speed allows the Target spacecraft to build up an inter-satellite distance of 10 to 20 km relative to the Chaser within a day.
At the end of this “drift arrest maneuver”, the target and the fighter will be in the same orbit at identical speeds, but approximately 20 km apart, known as “Far Rendezvous”.
The Chaser will then approach the target at increasingly smaller inter-satellite distances of 5 km, 1.5 km, 500 m, 225 m, 15 m and 3 m, eventually leading to the docking of the two spacecraft.
After successful coupling and bracing, the electrical energy transfer between the two satellites will be demonstrated before the two satellites are decoupled and separated to initiate the operation of their respective payloads.
The expected mission lifetime is up to two years.
Why is the docking mission crucial for India?
With the SpaDex mission, ISRO aims to place India in the elite club of countries with space docking capabilities. If successful, India will be on track to become the fourth country in the world – after the US, Russia and China – to have space docking technology.
The ISRO explained that this technology is essential for India's space ambitions, such as “Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon [Chandrayaan 4 mission]and the construction and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS).”
“Docking” occurs when a spacecraft can maneuver and dock itself with a space station. Spacecraft docking is important for activities such as transporting supplies to crewed space stations, refueling space vehicles, and retrieving daughter spacecraft separated from the parent spacecraft.
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