ISRO successfully launches space docking experiment

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex) onboard a PSLV rocket on Monday at 10 pm from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

India aims to join an elite list featuring China, Russia and the United States who have the Space docking technology.

The PSLV-C60 rocket carried two small spacecraft-A (SDX01) and Spacecraft B (SDX02), each weighing approximately 220 kg. ISRO chairman Dr S Somnath announced the successful launch of PSLV-C60 for the SpaDex mission.

“The rocket has placed the satellites into the right orbit. The panels of the satellites have also been placed successfully,” Somnath said.

The mission aims to demonstrate crucial technologies for India’s future human spaceflight programmes including building a space station and sending an Indian to the moon.

Spacecraft A carries a high resolution camera, while Spacecraft B has a miniature multispectral payload and a radiation monitor payload which would provide natural resource monitoring, vegetation studies among others.

“Space Docking Experiment is a pioneering mission to establish India’s capability in orbital docking, a key tech for future human mission,” ISRO said.