Bengaluru: Two Indian satellites came within three metres of each other in a trial attempt for space docking and are now being moved apart, the Indian space agency announced this morning.
“A trial attempt to reach up to 15 m and further to 3 m is done. Moving back spacecraft to a safe distance. The docking process will be done after analyzing data further,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) stated in its latest update.
The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission involves advanced technologies, with repeated maneuvers being conducted to achieve what ISRO has described as an “exciting handshake” between the two satellites in space.
The satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) were 230 metres apart last night when ISRO confirmed that their sensors were being assessed and that both satellites remained in good condition.
The SpaDeX mission was launched on December 30 with a PSLV C60 rocket, which successfully carried the satellites into a 475-kilometre circular orbit after lifting off from Sriharikota.
ISRO had twice postponed the historic docking of the satellites, with its chief, Dr S. Somnath, noting that this was India’s first attempt at such a feat, and that “every first attempt has its own challenges.”
With this mission, India is set to become the fourth nation to accomplish this achievement, paving the way for future space endeavours such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
