ISRO SpaDeX Docking Mission Live Updates: In trial attempt at docking, SpaDeX satellites successfully come 3 meters to each other, says ISRO

If the ISRO succeeds in its mission, India will become the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology.

According to ISRO, SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using these two small spacecraft. This technology is essential for India’s space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc.

So, ISRO is being cautious over the docking experiment. Why? Docking two moving satellites in space is a complicated operation. Since this is just a technology demonstration mission, getting it right is more important that getting it done on schedule.

Its for the first time that ISRO mission has carried out a biological experiment. The CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) experiment has witnessed the gerimation of seed and sustenance of a plant to a two-leaf stage. Scroll down to watch timelapse video of the seed germination in space.

Other experiments include a Debris capture Robotic Arm that has used a visual feed and object motion prediction to capture debris, and another moveable robotic arm that may be used in servicing satellites in space in the future.

Amity University will carry out a study of plant cells in microgravity and in earth gravity, and RV College of Engineering will study gut bacteria to generate their growth curve in space. A couple of synthetic aperture radars, and a green propulsion system will also be experimented with.

The PSLV C60/ SpaDeX is significant as it's a mission of several firsts. Intriguingly, a biological experiment was also part of the fourth stage of the mission. The experiment has witnessed the germination of seed and sustenance of a plant up to a two-leaf stage.

We elaborate here in four points:

* This is the first time that India’s trusted launch vehicle has been put together in the new PSLV integration facility and transported to the launch pad on a moving platform. Launch vehicles have thus far been assembled on the launch pad itself, which has meant a longer lead-in period between missions.

* Second, the mission has used several new sensors such as Laser Range Finder, Rendezvous Sensor, and Proximity and Docking Sensor to take precise measurements while bringing the two satellites closer and joining them.

The mission has also used a new processor based on satellite navigation systems to determine the relative position and velocity of the other spacecraft. This is a precursor to a completely autonomous system for future missions that would be able to achieve docking without satellite-based navigation data.

* Third, several special tests were developed by ISRO for the mission, such as Docking Mechanism Performance Test (to test the final phase of docking), Vertical Docking Experiment Laboratory (for testing the docking mechanisms under controlled conditions), and Rendezvous Simulation Lab for validating the algorithms with real-time simulation.

* Fourth and most importantly, the fourth stage of the launch vehicle has carried out several innovative experiments, including a biological experiment for the very first time.

ISRO ended the year 2024 by launching the country's first space docking mission, SpaDeX. On January 1, 2025, The Indian Express editorial was about the mission titled "SpaDeX mission: A tryst in space".

In case you missed it, here's it:

"SpaDeX’s success will place India in an elite group of nations with space docking capacity, which currently includes only the US, Russia and China. Docking is essential for missions that require heavy spacecraft and equipment that cannot be launched in one go — the International Space Station, for example. SpaDeX is pivotal for India’s space ambitions, including a manned foray to the Moon and the operation of the country’s space station. It could also open up opportunities for India’s space research agency to partner global missions that require docking facilities.

In the last two years, ISRO has transitioned from an agency that placed satellites in orbit —largely for communications, weather prediction and atmospheric surveys — to an institution that leads planetary exploration. The launch of Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-1 in 2023 was followed last year by the setting up of the first space observatory to study the polarisation of cosmic X-rays. In September 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the Venus Orbiter Mission to study different facets of Venus including its surface and atmosphere and Chandrayaan-4, which intends to collect soil and rock samples from the Moon and bring them back to Earth. The country is expected to make its maiden attempt at sending humans to space next year. The precursor missions for this landmark foray will be launched this year. The new era of Indian space exploration will be markedly different from recent ventures like the Moon mission of 2023. Chandrayaan-4, for instance, will have five components, launched at different times and then integrated into two separate modules. Similarly, the Bharatiya Antariksha Station will have five modules that will be brought together in space — the first of them is scheduled for launch in 2028. SpaDeX will lay the ground for these missions.

The payload launched on Monday also carries incubators of several experiments, including a box carrying eight cowpea seeds which, if plans go right, will develop to a two-leaf stage in space. In recent years, ISRO has sent signals that it has enough expertise to contribute to all aspects of planetary research. In 2025, and beyond, many more journeys await the agency."

As you eagerly await to know whether the ISRO will successfully conduct the SpaDex docking mission, lets take a look at what happens technically during the process.

For docking, the extended rings on both satellites will come together, before joining, and rigidization to secure the connection between the two. Then electrical power will be shared, with researchers also experimenting with giving commands to both the satellites as one.

In its latest update on the docking experiment, ISRO said it conducted a trial attempt was done and spacecrafts have been moved to safe distance. ISRO said in its post on X, "A trial attempt to reach up to 15 m and further to 3 m is done.

Moving back spacecrafts to safe distance. The docking process will be done after analysing data further."