The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) confirmed the successful undocking of their Space Docking Experiment - SpaDex, today, This paves the way for smooth conduct of ambitious future missions including the Bharatiya Antriksha Station, Chandrayaan 4 & Gaganyaan. India is the fourth country in the world to achieve successful space docking after the United States, Russia, and China.
The SPADEX satellites were successfully docked on January, 16 2025. ISRO has now accomplished the pivotal operation of undocking of SPADEX satellites in the very first attempt on 13th March, 2025 at ~09:20 Hrs. The undocking of the satellites took place in 460 km circular orbit with 45-degree inclination. The satellites are now orbiting independently and their health is normal. With this, ISRO has now successfully demonstrated all the capabilities required for rendezvous, docking and undocking operations in a circular orbit.
The in-orbit performance of the docked satellites was extensively analysed and an immediate opportunity was found to be feasible from March 10, 2025 till March 25, 2025. The entire operations were monitored through ground stations located at Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mauritius.
Having accomplished this major mile stone of undocking, further experiments with satellites are planned in the coming days.
Exhaustive ground simulations and analysis were the cornerstone of achieving the undocking in the first attempt itself. Various tests replicating on-orbit conditions were meticulously planned and carried out in preparation for the earliest opportunity for undocking operations.
ISRO has now successfully demonstrated space docking technology using two small satellites. It is a cost-effective experiment through which, India has achieved space rendezvous, docking and post docking control technologies.
https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/video/SD1_Undocking_01.mp4
The SPADEX satellites were successfully docked on January, 16 2025. ISRO has now accomplished the pivotal operation of undocking of SPADEX satellites in the very first attempt on 13th March, 2025 at ~09:20 Hrs. The undocking of the satellites took place in 460 km circular orbit with 45-degree inclination. The satellites are now orbiting independently and their health is normal. With this, ISRO has now successfully demonstrated all the capabilities required for rendezvous, docking and undocking operations in a circular orbit.
The in-orbit performance of the docked satellites was extensively analysed and an immediate opportunity was found to be feasible from March 10, 2025 till March 25, 2025. The entire operations were monitored through ground stations located at Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mauritius.
Having accomplished this major mile stone of undocking, further experiments with satellites are planned in the coming days.
Exhaustive ground simulations and analysis were the cornerstone of achieving the undocking in the first attempt itself. Various tests replicating on-orbit conditions were meticulously planned and carried out in preparation for the earliest opportunity for undocking operations.
ISRO has now successfully demonstrated space docking technology using two small satellites. It is a cost-effective experiment through which, India has achieved space rendezvous, docking and post docking control technologies.
https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/video/SD1_Undocking_01.mp4
