India delays first space docking of SpaDeX satellite, requires ‘additional verification’

India has postponed its first attempt to dock two spacecraft into Earth’s orbit to allow more time for testing as it prepares to test critical technologies for its future ambitions in space.

The Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) was expected to connect two small satellites in low-Earth orbit in the late evening of Monday, January 6, 2019 (January 7 Indian Standard Time). The PSLV rocket will be launched on December 30th. This will be the first test of ISRO’s indigenously developed autonomous space docking system.

An ISRO official said, “The SpaDeX docking scheduled for the 7th has now been postponed to the 9th.” I wrote it in the mission update. on social media site X on Monday. “The docking process requires further validation through ground simulations based on the disruption scenarios identified today.”

ISRO’s SpaDeX mission is designed to test automated rendezvous and docking technologies for use in future missions to the Moon and near-Earth space via robotic and manned spacecraft.

relevant: India launches two SpaDeX satellites for ambitious space docking tests for future lunar missions to the space station

“This mission will mark India’s entry into the exclusive league of countries capable of mastering space docking,” said Jitendra Singh, India’s Minister of Science and Technology. Pre-launch statement. The United States, Russia and China have developed docking technology for manned spacecraft, while Japan and the European Space Agency have also developed unmanned cargo ships to visit the International Space Station. (Japan’s HTV cargo ship was captured by a robotic arm and connected to the station, while Europe’s ATV ship was able to dock on its own.)

India’s space docking experimental satellite will enter orbit via the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle on December 30, 2024. (Image source: ISRO)

ISRO aims to build the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, a manned space station orbiting the moon, by 2040, and docking technology will be essential for both the assembly phase and manned operations of the station. India also plans to launch Chandrayaan 4, a sample return mission to the lunar south pole by 2028. The mission requires docking the sample capsule with a return spacecraft for the trip back to Earth.

Two docking satellites from SpaDex, India's space docking experiment mission.

Two docking satellites from SpaDex, India’s space docking experiment mission. (Image source: ISRO)

During the SpaDeX mission, the Chaser satellite will approach and dock with the Target satellite, with both satellites flying approximately 470 km above Earth. Each SpaDeX satellite weighs approximately 485 pounds (220 kg).

Besides the twin SpaDeX satellites, ISRO has also launched a separate set of 24 experiments on the POEM-4 platform attached to the top of the mission’s PSLV rocket. These experiments included several new demonstrations, including India’s first crawling robotic arm (similar to the Canadarm2 on the ISS), another robotic arm to catch space debris, and other technology payloads.

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