ISRO successfully undocks SpaDeX satellites
Setting at rest doubts, the state-run Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday accomplished the pivotal operation of undocking of the two SpaDeX satellites in the very first attempt.
The undocking of the satellites took place in 460-km circular orbit with 45-degree inclination. The satellites are now orbiting independently and their health is normal.
“Congrats team #ISRO. And heartening for every Indian! #SpaDeX satellites accomplished the unbelievable De-Docking… This paves the way for smooth conduct of ambitious future missions, including the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, Chandrayaan 4 and Gaganyaan,” Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh wrote in a post on X.
In a statement uploaded on its website, ISRO said the in-orbit performance of the docked satellites was extensively analysed and an immediate opportunity was found to be feasible from March 10 till March 25.
The first attempt for separating the satellites was made on Thursday and it was successful. The entire operations were monitored through ground stations located at Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mauritius.
ISRO achieved a major milestone when it successfully docked the two satellites — each weighing 220 kg — in space on January 16. Although, no specific timeline was announced by ISRO for the separation of the two satellites, the initial impression was that “undocking”, an essential part of the mission, would take place much sooner than the 56 days it finally took since the day of the docking of the two satellites.
“Exhaustive ground simulations and analysis were the cornerstone of achieving the undocking in the first attempt itself. Various tests replicating on-orbit conditions were meticulously planned and carried out in preparation for the earliest opportunity for undocking operations,” ISRO said.
“ISRO has now successfully demonstrated space-docking technology using two small satellites. It is a cost-effective experiment through which India has achieved space rendezvous, docking and post-docking control technologies,” the space agency added.
Further experiments with satellites are planned in the coming days.
SpaDeX A has High Resolution Camera (HRC) and SpaDeX B is equipped with two payloads, Miniature Multispectral (MMX) payload and Radiation Monitor (RadMon). These will provide high resolution images, natural resource monitoring, vegetation studies and on-orbit radiation environment measurements which find numerous applications.
