For the first time in its history, ISRO will conduct a space docking experiment on January 9, 2025. The mission, part of the SPACEDOCK-X (SPaDeX) project, aims to dock two satellites—Chaser (SDX01) and Target (SDX02)—launched on December 30, 2024. The experiment is scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM IST and will be streamed live on ISRO’s official YouTube channel.
The satellites, weighing approximately 220 kg each, were launched aboard the PSLV-C60 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Initially separated by 20 kilometers, the satellites will gradually close the distance in stages—5 km, 1.5 km, 500 meters, 15 meters, and finally, 3 meters—before docking in space.
Originally planned for January 6, the experiment was rescheduled to January 9 due to technical issues. This marks a significant milestone for ISRO, as space docking is a crucial capability for advanced space missions, including space station development and on-orbit servicing.
