ISRO plans two orbital docking missions to prep for Indian space station development

[Ajay0]

India’s space agency, Indian Space Research Organisation, is preparing to undertake two advanced orbital docking experiments SPADEX-3 and SPADEX-4 to support its future operational objectives.

Space docking capabilities are vital for Indian space goals for creating a space station by 2035 as well as conducting its first moon landing in 2040 followed by a  permanent human presence on the Moon by 2047.

ISRO conducted its first space docking experiments (SPADEX) at a basic level successfully after docking autonomously  two small Indian satellites—SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) in a circular orbit, in January 2025. 

There was a succesful demonstration of electric power transfer between the docked sattelites.They were also undocked successfuly on March 13,2025.

The new SPADEX missions will involve docking experiments at an advanced level at both circular and elliptical orbits.

India is the fourth country on earth after the US, Russia and China to demonstrate space docking capabilites.

https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/isro-plans-two-new-spadex-missions-to-prep-for-bharatiya-antariksh-station-2886229-2026-03-24

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The SPADEX programme is central to mastering rendezvous and docking technologies, which enable spacecraft to meet, align, and connect in space.

These capabilities are essential for a wide range of operations, including crew transfer, refuelling, and power exchange. Successful validation of these technologies will support future missions such as the docking of the Gaganyaan crew module with space stations, as well as routine human spaceflight operations.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 07:50 AM by Ajay0