ISRO Successfully Launches Critical Space Docking Mission: A Leap for India’s Space Tech

ISRO Successfully Launches Critical Space Docking Mission: Two spacecraft that will help ISRO demonstrate space docking, a crucial technology for future space missions, were successfully separated and placed in the desired low earth orbit last night, ISRO said.

"PSLV C60 mission accomplished as of SpaDeX spacecraft is out," said Mission director M Jayakumar.

This is a precursor to ISRO setting up its own Space Station by 2035, and India will join the elite club in a few days.

The 44.5-metre-tall rocket carried two spacecraft, Spacecraft A and B, each 220kg, for space docking, satellite servicing, and interplanetary missions.

After the 25-hour countdown which began on Sunday, the rocket took off at 10 pm from the First Launch Pad at this spaceport, spewing out orange fumes and thunderous sound on the island, about 135 km from Chennai.

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According to ISRO scientists, the two spacecraft-Spacecraft A (SDX01), or the 'Chaser' and Spacecraft B (SDX02), or the 'Target' will merge later at an altitude of about 470 km after traveling the same distance and speed.

By mastering the docking technologies, ISRO will gain operational flexibility and expand its mission boundaries.

This technology is needed for some of India's space ambitions like India on the Moon, getting samples from the Moon (Chandrayaan-4 mission), and building and operating the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.

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"In-space docking is required when multiple rocket launches are needed to achieve the same mission objectives. India is now marching to become the fourth country to have space docking technology," ISRO said.

China, Russia, and the US are the other three to achieve this technology.

Spacecraft has reached the orbit, in a few days scientists will reduce the distance between the two and then merge them to dock the spacecraft.

PSLV-C60 is ISRO's last mission in 2024. Interestingly, ISRO started 2024 with the PSLV-C58/XPOSAT mission on January 1.

PSLV of Monday is the first to be integrated up to the 4th stage at PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

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