Another milestone in India's space journey: India launches its first space docking mission

India launched its groundbreaking first space docking mission on Monday, using an indigenously developed rocket, in an attempt to become the fourth country to achieve this advanced technological feat.

The mission, called the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh state at 4:30 p.m. GMT aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) trusted PSLV rocket, often referred to as its "workhorse." Around 15 minutes later, the mission director declared the launch successful after the spacecraft reached an altitude of approximately 470 km.

This mission is seen as pivotal for future space explorations, including satellite servicing and the operation of India's planned space station. In-space docking technology is crucial for scenarios where multiple rocket launches are required to achieve shared mission objectives.

The mission involves deploying two small spacecraft, each weighing around 220 kilograms, into a 470-km circular orbit. It will also demonstrate the capability of transferring electric power between docked spacecraft, a feature critical for advanced applications such as in-space robotics, composite spacecraft control, and payload operations following undocking.

Each satellite carries advanced payloads, including an imaging system and a radiation-monitoring device designed to measure electron and proton radiation levels in space, generating vital data for India's future human spaceflight missions.

ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said the actual testing of the docking technology could take place within about a week and indicated a nominal date of January 7. He said:

“The rocket has placed the satellites in the right orbit”

A successful demonstration would place India alongside the United States, Russia, and China as the only nations to have developed and tested this capability.

For the first time in India, the rocket and the satellites were integrated and tested at a private company, Ananth Technologies, instead of a government body.

"Demonstrating this technology not only aligns India with a rare group of countries that possess it, but also opens up a market for ISRO to serve as a launch partner for global missions requiring docking or in-space assembly," said astrophysicist Somak Raychaudhary of Ashoka University.

The fourth stage of the PSLV rocket, which typically turns into space debris, has been converted into an active, uncrewed space laboratory. This stage, now called the PSLV Orbital Experiment Module (POEM), will be used for various experiments.

"The POEM platform is a practical solution deployed by ISRO, enabling Indian start-ups, academic institutions, and research organizations to test space technologies without launching entire satellites. By making this platform accessible, ISRO is reducing entry barriers and fostering innovation in India's space sector," said Pawan Goenka, chairman of India's space regulatory body.