Science & TechnologyImportant2024-12-30

ISRO Successfully Launches SpaDeX Space Docking Mission

Why focus: ISRO orbital docking milestone — highly testable GS3 Sci-Tech proxy for 'How-Many-Correct' on satellite capabilities and PSLV payload.

In News

What Happened

On December 30, 2024, ISRO launched the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket from Sriharikota. The mission deployed two 220 kg satellites, known as the Chaser and the Target, into a low Earth orbit. The spacecraft subsequently performed autonomous rendezvous manoeuvres and successfully docked on January 16, 2025.

Why It Matters

The successful docking makes India only the fourth nation globally, after the US, Russia, and China, to demonstrate this complex capability. It is a fundamental stepping stone for India's future space ambitions, including constructing the Bharatiya Antariksha Station, executing the Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission, and developing in-orbit satellite servicing.

Background

History & Context

The SpaDeX mission was conceptualized by ISRO as a cost-effective technology demonstrator to master orbital rendezvous and the indigenous Bharatiya Docking System. Developed at the UR Rao Satellite Centre with integration support from private partner Ananth Technologies, it bridges a critical gap in India's space program. Previously, missions relied entirely on the lift capacity of single rockets, but future deep space and crewed missions require modular assembly in orbit.

What Changed

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BEFORE: India lacked the capability to join spacecraft in orbit, restricting missions to the payload limits of a single launch vehicle. NOW: Demonstrated autonomous docking allows for in-space assembly, enabling the modular construction of the upcoming Bharatiya Antariksha Station.
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BEFORE: Lunar return missions were constrained by the massive fuel and weight requirements of a single launch. NOW: The docking capability validates the architecture for Chandrayaan-4, which will launch in multiple parts and assemble in orbit.
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BEFORE: Satellites running low on power or fuel could not be assisted, leading to their eventual decommissioning. NOW: SpaDeX proved electrical power transfer between docked spacecraft, laying the groundwork for in-orbit servicing and extending satellite lifespans.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This mission practically applies concepts from Class 11 Physics Chapter 8 - Gravitation, specifically regarding satellite orbits and orbital velocity. For the Chaser and Target to dock, they had to precisely synchronize their orbital velocities and altitudes to minimize relative velocity, relying on the principles of gravitational attraction and planetary motion.

Practice Questions

Q1

With Reference To

With reference to the ISRO SpaDeX mission, consider the following statements: 1. It involved the docking of two satellites named Chaser and Target launched by the PSLV-C60 rocket. 2. It successfully demonstrated the transfer of electrical power between the docked spacecraft. 3. The mission makes India the second country in the world to achieve space docking. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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