ISRO's SpaDeX satellites 1.5km apart, making a closer approach today
11 Jan 2025

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has revealed that its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), are currently flying 1.5km apart.

The agency intends to bring them closer, targeting a distance of just 500m today.

This experiment is a key component of ISRO's ambitious space exploration objectives, which include lunar sample return missions and setting up an independent space station.

Previous docking attempts and future plans
Docking delays

The SpaDeX mission has already witnessed two delays in its publicly announced docking schedules on January 7 and January 9, owing to technical difficulties in aligning the two spacecraft.

An ISRO official explained that after the last maneuver, the satellites drifted apart but remained safe.

The plan is to gradually bring the Chaser satellite closer to the Target satellite at specific hold points before attempting docking again.

ISRO's new approach and leadership change
Strategy shift

After the earlier delays, ISRO has opted for a "dock and inform" approach, an official said. The decision comes amid a leadership change at the agency.

V Narayanan, the Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, has been appointed as the new ISRO Chairman from January 14. He will replace Dr. S Somanath.

SpaDeX mission's significance and progress
Mission impact

If the SpaDeX mission is successful, India will become the fourth country (after US, Russia, and China) to have autonomous docking capabilities in space.

The two spacecraft participating in this mission were launched on December 30, 2024, on-board the PSLV-C60 rocket.

They weigh about 220kg each and will function as a single unit after docking.