ISRO Successfully Completes SpaDex Mission’s De-Docking, Paving Way for Future Space Endeavours
By R Anil Kumar
Bengaluru. ISRO announced the successful completion of the SpaDex Mission’s de-docking. This is another achievement for the Indian Space Research Organisation.
The SPADEX satellites were successfully docked on January 16, 2025. ISRO has now accomplished the pivotal operation of undocking of SPADEX satellites in the very first attempt on March 13, 2025 at 09:20 Hrs.
Having accomplished this major mile stone of undocking, further experiments with satellites are planned in the coming days
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
With this, ISRO has now successfully demonstrated all the capabilities required for rendezvous, docking and undocking operations in a circular orbit.
The in-orbit performance of the docked satellites was extensively analysed and an immediate opportunity was found to be feasible from March 10, 2025 till March 25, 2025. The entire operations were monitored through ground stations located at Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mauritius.
Having accomplished this major mile stone of undocking, further experiments with satellites are planned in the coming days.
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 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.
Union MoS (Ind. Charge) Science & Technology; Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh, posted about this on his X handle. He wrote that, “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 Antriksha Station, Chandrayaan 4 & Gaganyaan. PM Narendra Modi’s continuous patronage keeps the spirits soaring.”
The undocking process involved a precise sequence of events, culminating in the separation of the SDX-01 (Chaser) and SDX-02 (Target) satellites that was launched on December 30 in 2024, using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C60, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
It included the successful extension of SDX-2, the planned release of Capture Lever 3, and the disengagement of the Capture Lever in SDX-2.
After these manoeuvres, the decapture command was issued in both SDX-1 and SDX-2, leading to the successful separation of the satellites.
ISRO successfully completed docking of the two SPADEX satellites (SDX-01 and SDX-02) in the early hours of January 16 this year, marking India’s entry towards becoming the fourth country -alongside China, Russia and the United States-in the world to have space docking technology.
According to the space organization, the groundbreaking mission aims to showcase India’s technological prowess in spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking — a critical capability for future advancements such as satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary exploration.
It is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV.
This technology is essential for India’s space ambitions such as putting an Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc.
In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. The SpaDeX spacecraft were designed and realized by the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) with the support of other ISRO centres (VSSC, LPSC, SAC, IISU, and LEOS).
