The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Thursday successfully completed its fourth attempt to dock two satellites in space under the Spadex mission. According to ISRO, scientists were successful in this effort. After the success of Spadex mission, India has become the fourth country in the world to do so. Efficiency in space docking will prove helpful in future manned missions and interplanetary missions.
Earlier, ISRO had informed on January 12 that the Space Docking Experiment Project could not complete the mission even after coming very close to its target. ISRO said that the attempt to reduce the distance between the two satellites from 15 meters to 3 meters was successful, after which both the satellites moved away from each other. ISRO said that the docking attempt will be made after data analysis. The third docking attempt took place on 12 January. Even before this, the docking process had to be postponed twice.
docking process
- In space docking, two satellites approach each other and join together.
- It is a complex technical process, which is used in space missions.
- The purpose of docking is to link two satellites together to share data, connect power sources, or carry out special missions.
- During space docking, one spacecraft has to be brought close to another spacecraft and docked in a controlled manner, so that no damage is done.
What is the Spadex mission?
- The SpaDeX mission consists of two satellites. First the pursuer and second the target.
- The chaser satellite was to capture the target and dock with it.
- Each satellite weighs approximately 220 kg.
- These satellites were launched with PSLV-C60 rocket.
- ISRO launched this mission on December 30 at 10 pm from Sriharikota.
- Under this, two spacecraft were deployed 470 kilometers above the earth using PSLV-C60 rocket.
