Isro to carry out ambitious space docking experiment

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Isro will carry out its ambitious space docking experiment using two satellites on orbit, on Jan 9. The event was scheduled on Jan 7 but postponed to Thursday morning. If the Isro succeeds in its mission, India will become the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology. Isro had launched the two satellites SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) as part of the mission on December 30 with the help of PSLV C60 rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The two small spacecraft weighing about 220 kg each were injected into a 475-km circular orbit as intended. According to Isro, Spa- DeX mission is a costeffective 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 and sample return from the Moon.