India aims to join an elite space club tonight as ISRO launches its first autonomous docking mission, a vital step toward building its own space station. Only the US, Russia, China and the EU have independently mastered this technology.
In a significant leap forward for India's space ambitions, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its groundbreaking Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission today.
India is set to become the fourth nation to independently demonstrate autonomous docking capabilities, following the United States, Russia, and China. While the European Space Agency has successfully conducted automated docking operations with the International Space Station through its ATV program, India's achievement would mark it as the fourth individual country and fifth political entity to master this technology independently, with the first successful space docking achieved by the United States in 1966.
The mission, launching at 22:00:15 (Indian Standard Time) from the Sriharikota spaceport, will involve two small satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, each weighing 220 kg, performing an intricate orbital ballet at speeds of approximately 7.5 kilometres per second. Audiences will be able to watch via a YouTube livestream from 21:30 IST.
The event will also commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the death of Vikram Sarabhai, known at the "the pioneer" of the Indian Space Programme.
This technological feat is particularly challenging given the small size of the spacecraft. The “chaser" satellite (SDX01) will gradually approach its target through a series of precise manoeuvres, reducing the distance from 20 kilometres to just three metres before attempting the final docking procedure. The mission employs cutting-edge technology, including laser range finders, rendezvous sensors and proximity sensors, to ensure precise measurements during this delicate operation.
The success of SpaDeX is crucial for India's ambitious space goals, including the establishment of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station by 2035 and future lunar sample return missions. The planned space station will require multiple modules to be launched separately and assembled in orbit, making docking capability essential for its construction.
Beyond the primary docking experiment, the mission introduces several innovative elements. For the first time, ISRO will conduct a biological experiment in space through the CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) module, which will attempt to germinate seeds in microgravity. The mission will also feature 24 different experiments, including 10 from startups and educational institutions.
The mission represents a significant departure from previous launches, as it's the first to utilise ISRO's new PSLV integration facility, where the rocket was assembled and transported to the launch pad on a moving platform – a change that promises to reduce the time between launches.
The successful completion of this mission will pave the way for more ambitious projects, including lunar sample return missions and the establishment of India's first space station, signaling a new chapter in the country's space exploration journey.
The docking is expected to take place in the first week of January 2025.
Mexican federal officers detained Mayor Diego Rivera on Thursday during coordinated raids that also led to the arrest of the municipality’s security...
Georgia and the United States have held a rare high-level meeting in Washington, reopening cautious discussion about relations after years of politica...
Alphabet is emerging as a frontrunner in the global artificial intelligence race, as analysts and executives say Google has overtaken OpenAI, marking ...
Using art as a quiet alarm, a new exhibition in Baku is drawing attention to endangered wildlife and the need for environmental responsibility....
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday (February 3) one day after the U.S. and India signed a trade deal.
India says it's going to stop buying Russian oil and lower trade barriers after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India on Monday (2 February) that cuts American tariffs on Indian goods to 18% from 50%.
Two Nipah infections involving health workers in India have triggered heightened screening across Southeast Asia as authorities move to prevent the high fatality virus from spreading beyond the country.
A private charter flight carrying one of India’s most prominent regional politicians ended in disaster on Wednesday morning, plunging the nation’s wealthiest state into a sudden political crisis and shock.
Rivers and reservoirs across Spain and Portugal were on the verge of overflowing on Wednesday as a new weather front pounded the Iberian peninsula, compounding damage from last week's Storm Kristin.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unveiled a new underground ballistic missile base on Wednesday (4 February), just over a day before the start of mediated nuclear negotiations with the United States, slated for Friday in Oman.
Morocco has evacuated more than 100,000 people from four provinces after heavy rainfall triggered flash floods across several northern regions, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
A second group of Palestinians receiving medical treatment arrived in Egypt from Gaza via the Rafah border crossing on Tuesday (3 February).
The World Health Organization has added the Nipah virus to its list of the world’s top 10 priority diseases, alongside COVID-19 and the Zika virus, warning that its epidemic potential highlights the global risk posed by fast-spreading outbreaks.
Russian troops in Ukraine have lost access to Starlink internet terminals after Kyiv and SpaceX moved to block unauthorised Russian use, a disruption Ukrainian officials described as a major blow to Moscow’s battlefield operations.
Mexican federal officers detained Mayor Diego Rivera on Thursday during coordinated raids that also led to the arrest of the municipality’s security director and the heads of public works and the land registry.
U.S. President Donald Trump says he will not support extending the New START nuclear arms control treaty and wants a new, “improved and modernised” agreement, even as Russia expresses regret over the pact’s expiration and warns of the dangers of an unconstrained nuclear arms race.
A London court has sentenced Russian captain Vladimir Motin to six years in prison for gross negligence over a 2025 ship collision that killed Filipino crew member Mark Pernia, whose body was never found.
In recent years, Abu Dhabi has emerged as a venue for high-stakes diplomacy, hosting sensitive talks on conflicts ranging from Ukraine-Russia to Armenia-Azerbaijan, as the United Arab Emirates positions itself as a neutral platform amid deepening global divisions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment