Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has taken delivery of two 400 kg satellites, which are key components of the upcoming Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission.
Credit : ISRO
The SPADEX mission will involve launching the satellites into slightly different orbits using a single rocket. The satellites will travel at approximately 28,000 km/h and aim to perform a ‘space handshake’ by mechanically docking to form a single orbiting entity.
Credit : ISRO
The ability to dock is critical for future space missions, including the proposed Chandrayaan-4 lunar mission and the Bharatiya Antariksha Space Station, which is planned to be India’s own space station.
The integration of the satellites was completed by Ananth Technologies Private Limited (ATL), marking the first instance where ISRO has received fully assembled, integrated, and tested satellites from a private Indian company.
Dr. Subba Rao Pavuluri, chairman of ATL, noted that the assembly, integration, and testing of the satellites were accomplished in a record three months, highlighting the capabilities of the private sector in supporting ISRO’s missions.
The mission aims to demonstrate autonomous rendezvous and docking capabilities, enabling two spacecraft to operate as a single unit. This technology is essential for the operation and maintenance of a space station.
The SPADEX mission is a crucial step for India’s ambitions to build a space station by 2028. The technologies developed in this mission will facilitate the robotic assembly of the station’s modules.
Credit : ISRO
Following their delivery to ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, the satellites will be transported to the Indian Spaceport at Sriharikota for further testing, fueling, and eventual launch in the coming months.