How ISRO's SpaDeX mission will pave way for Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4

The ISRO chief also confirmed that the final docking in the just launched SpaDex mission is expected to take place around January 7.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission on Monday.

The SpaDeX mission represents a critical step in advancing India’s capabilities in orbital docking. Successful completion of this mission will enhance ISRO's ability to conduct complex operations in space and lay the groundwork for future interplanetary missions.

The ISRO chief also confirmed that the final docking in the just launched SpaDex mission is expected to take place around January 7.

The SpaDeX mission, ISRO's year-end project, is historic as it aims to achieve the rare feat of docking or merging two satellites in space. The project is a cost-effective technology demonstration mission for in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV.

Docking technology is crucial for long-term missions like Chandrayaan-4, the planned Indian space station, and the eventual manned Gaganyaan mission.

The SpaDeX mission is far more than a simple technological demonstration. It is a strategic step towards several ambitious space objectives by India and will facilittate the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, enable Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return missions that will heavily rely on docking mechanism, and pave the way for developing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), India's proposed space station.

As ISRO begins to manuver the two satellites, all eyes will be trained towards the Low Earth Orbit as India aims to join the lite club with the docking technology.

The revised timeline for Gaganyaan aligns with Isro's meticulous approach to space exploration. ISRO chief had previously stated that the agency would conduct multiple uncrewed missions before the manned flight to ensure all safety precautions are in place.

The Indian government has approved the construction of the first unit of the Bharatiya Anatriksh Station, extending the scope of the Gaganyaan program. The programme aims to develop the first module of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1) and conduct missions to validate various technologies for building and operating BAS. The programme also includes eight human spaceflight missions, with the goal of launching the first BAS-1 unit by December 2028.