India successfully launched its first space docking mission on Monday, using its own rocket and aiming to become the fourth country in the world to achieve this milestone.
The mission, named Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh at 1630 GMT. The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) PSLV rocket, known as the “workhorse,” was used for the launch. The spacecraft reached an altitude of approximately 470 km about 15 minutes after liftoff, and the mission director declared it a success.
This crucial mission involves placing two compact spacecraft, each weighing around 220 kilograms, into a 470-km circular orbit. It will demonstrate the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, a capability essential for future space applications such as in-space robotics and payload operations.
Both satellites are equipped with advanced payloads, including an imaging system and a radiation-monitoring device to measure radiation levels in space. This data will be valuable for future human spaceflight missions.
ISRO Chairman S. Somanath mentioned that the testing of the docking technology could take place in about a week, tentatively on Jan. 7. “The satellites are in the correct orbit,” he confirmed.
If successful, India will join the exclusive group of countries, including the United States, Russia, and China, that have developed and tested space docking capabilities.
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