NEW DELHI, March 3: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to resume experiments on its SpaDeX mission starting from March 15. Launched on December 30 last year, the SpaDeX mission placed two satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, into orbit to demonstrate a space docking experiment.
After multiple attempts, ISRO successfully docked the two satellites on January 16. The mission aims to develop and refine docking technologies that will be crucial for future space endeavors, including the Chandrayaan-4 mission and the Bharat Antariksha Station.
Currently in an elliptical orbit, the SpaDeX satellites provide a 10 to 15-day window every two months for conducting experiments. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated that the window for experiments would open on March 15. He explained that simulation experiments for satellite separation and re-docking were being conducted, with the actual experiments scheduled to begin mid-March.
The first experiment will involve the undocking maneuver, where the two satellites will separate from each other. This process is key for the operations of the proposed Indian space station, which is planned for assembly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) by 2035. Narayanan added that there is sufficient propellant onboard the satellites to conduct multiple experiments, with further experiments planned for the next two-month window.
The SpaDeX mission serves as a precursor to several ambitious ISRO projects, highlighting the importance of mastering docking technologies for future space missions.
