SpaDeX Mission: ISRO’s Leap Towards Space Docking Technology

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission in December 2024, aiming to make India the fourth country to achieve space docking technology. The mission, aboard PSLV-C60, involves two 220-kg spacecraft—SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target)—that will demonstrate autonomous in-space docking. This breakthrough will enable ISRO to advance its space ambitions, including lunar missions, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS), and satellite servicing.

Key Objectives and Concept

Primary Objective: Demonstration of rendezvous, docking, and undocking technologies for two small spacecraft in low-Earth orbit.

Secondary Objectives

• Power transfer between docked spacecraft.
• Composite spacecraft control.
• Payload operations post-undocking.

Mission Execution: Launched into a 470 km orbit, the Chaser and Target spacecraft will progressively reduce inter-satellite distances, culminating in docking, power transfer demonstration, and payload operations for up to two years.

Technological Innovations

Indigenous Mechanisms: Docking systems, autonomous rendezvous algorithms, and power transfer technology.

Advanced Sensors: Laser Range Finder, Proximity and Docking Sensors, and GNSS-based Relative Orbit Determination and Propagation (RODP).

Software & Simulations: Multiple test beds validated algorithms for precision docking and post-docking operations.

Post-Docking Payloads

• SDX01 features a High-Resolution Camera for surveillance and imaging.
• SDX02 includes a Miniature Multi-Spectral Payload for resource monitoring and a Radiation Monitor for space radiation studies.

Significance for India’s Space Sector

The success of SpaDeX will position India alongside the US, Russia, and China in space docking capabilities, paving the way for ambitious projects like Chandrayaan-4, BAS, and Gaganyaan. It will also enable satellite servicing, debris management, and public-private partnerships, showcasing India’s expanding space technology ecosystem.

Summary of the news