The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Thursday successfully completed its fourth attempt to dock two satellites in space under the SpaDeX mission. According to ISRO, the scientists were successful in this attempt. After the success of the Spadex mission, India has become the fourth country in the world to do so. Proficiency in space docking will prove helpful in future human missions and interplanetary missions.
Earlier, ISRO had informed on January 12 that the Space Docking Experiment project could not complete the mission even after coming very close to its target. ISRO said that the attempt to reduce the distance between the two satellites from 15 meters to 3 meters was successful, after which the two satellites moved away from each other. ISRO said that docking will be attempted after data analysis. The third docking attempt took place on 12 January. Even before this, the docking process had to be postponed twice.
Docking process
- In space docking, two satellites approach each other and join together.
- It is a complex technical process, used in space missions.
- The purpose of docking is to connect two satellites together to share data, connect power sources, or carry out special missions.
- During space docking, one spacecraft has to be brought close to another spacecraft and docked in a controlled manner, so that no damage is done.
What is the SpaDeX mission?
- The SpaDeX mission consists of two satellites. First the chaser and second the target.
- The chaser satellite was supposed to capture and dock with the target.
- Each satellite weighs about 220 kg.
- These satellites were launched by PSLV-C60 rocket.
- ISRO launched this mission on December 30 at 10 pm from Sriharikota.
- Under this, two spacecraft were deployed 470 km above the earth by PSLV-C60 rocket.
