The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully de-docked the SpaDeX satellites, a significant achievement that clears the path for future missions such as exploring the moon, human spaceflight, and building India's own space station. The de-docking, announced by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, follows a successful docking experiment conducted in January. The SpaDeX mission involved launching two satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, to demonstrate the docking technology in space.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday said the two satellites launched to perform space docking experiments were brought within three metres and then moved safely back in a trial attempt.
The two Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites that the Indian Space Research Organisation is hoping to unite are at a distance of 1.5 km and will be brought much closer on January 11, the space agency said on Friday.
India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology.
Dubbed as a prelude to ISRO setting up its own Space Station by 2035, the PSLV-C60 mission would also make India join an elite club in achieving this feat which is expected to take place in the coming days.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan announces ambitious space program goals, including landing Indians on the Moon by 2040 and launching the 'Gaganyaan' mission in 2027. The agency is also working on a national space station and uncrewed missions.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully performed the docking of satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX). The docking was achieved after a series of maneuvers, including a trial attempt on January 12. The SpaDeX mission, launched on December 30, 2024, aims to demonstrate in-space docking technology using two small spacecraft. This technology is crucial for achieving complex mission objectives that require multiple rocket launches.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced that the fourth edition of the PSLV Orbital platform Experiment Module (POEM-4), used for the space docking experiment mission, has successfully re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. The module, a repurposed spent upper stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, impacted at 02:33 UTC (08:03 IST) on April 04, 2025, in the Indian Ocean. This successful re-entry signifies ISRO's commitment to mitigating space debris and contributing to the long-term sustainability of the outer space environment. POEM-4 had hosted 24 payloads during its mission life, yielding valuable science data. ISRO and the United States Space Command (USSPACECOM) closely monitored the module's orbit decay and predicted the re-entry date. This event showcases ISRO's proactive approach to responsible space operations.
The spinach callus tissue, sent by Amity University-Mumbai to space, has shown signs of growth in the POEM-4 module that is orbiting the earth at an altitude of 350 kms, scientists associated with the experiment said.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that cowpea seeds sent to space onboard the PSLV-C60 POEM-4 platform have successfully germinated under microgravity conditions, marking a significant milestone for India's space program. This experiment, known as CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies), aims to understand how plants grow in the unique conditions of space, which is essential for future long-duration space missions.
Demonstration of seed germination in outer space, a robotic arm to catch a tethered debris there, and testing of green propulsion systems are some of the experiments planned on the POEM-4 -- the fourth stage of ISRO's PSLV rocket that remains in orbit after launching a satellite.
The Indian government has approved the construction of a third launch pad at Sriharikota, capable of sending heavier spacecraft into orbit. This new facility will support India's ambitious space program, including the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission and a lunar landing. The launch pad will be built at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and is expected to be operational within four years.
Docking technology is crucial for sending people and cargo to space stations.
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