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New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
ISRO successfully docks two satellites, power exchange starts
BENGALURU: As the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully docked two low-orbit satellites — SDX-01 and SDX-02 (Target and Chaser) -- as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) on Monday morning, scientists said there is no time to relax as challenges are still on. The scientists are now monitoring the transfer of energy from one satellite to the other. 'This work is more crucial than docking and undocking. The success and progress of transfer of energy, which is also one of the parts of the experimental mission, will decide the future course of action of ISRO's missions,' ISRO sources said. 'The exercise of switching off the energy of one satellite and using solar energy to transfer power to the other satellite and vice-versa is being done. A continuous supply of power and then a sudden stop and its impact also needs to be studied. There is no time limit for the experiments as the two satellites can live for 10-15 years. There is abundant solar energy and sufficient fuel in the satellites for docking and undocking. However, efforts are being made to ensure there are no errors,' the sources said. ISRO Chairman N Narayanan said that while docking and undocking did not happen in the first attempt during the first trials, it was a success in the first attempt in the second trial. 'Work on transfer of energy from one satellite to the other started from Monday morning. The next undocking will not happen immediately. We will wait for some time before working on the next course,' he said and added that with 50% fuel capacity available, all caution is being exercised. ISRO sources said the SpaDeX mission and now the exercise of transfer of energy is more crucial and difficult because the spacecraft are small. 'These are 220kg, low-orbit satellites and are not easy to handle. The management has been given full freedom to work with the spacecraft and take time in completing all mission exercises through controlled and uncontrolled panels,' the sources said. ISRO launched the mission in December 2024 with SDX-01 and SDX-02 on PSLV-C-60 into the 470 km circular orbit at 55 degree inclination with a time difference of 66 days. The first docking was on January 16, 2025 and they were undocked on March 13, 2025. ISRO on Monday shared that the second docking experiment too was a success and it happened at 8.20pm on April 20. ISRO also completed the power transfer from SDX-02 to SDX-01 satellite as well as vice-versa on April 21. The experiment involved operating a heater element in one of the satellites through power from the other satellite. The duration of power transfer was approximately four minutes and the performance of the satellites was as scientists added that in the second attempt, the docking was completed with full autonomy from an inter-satellite distance of 15 metres till docking, whereas in the first docking attempt, an additional hold point was manually exercised at an inter-satellite distance of 3 metres.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Science
- Time of India
ISRO achieves docking of SpaDeX satellites for second time
The Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO ) has successfully performed the second docking of satellites as part of its Spadex missions, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Monday. He said more experiments are planned in the next two weeks. "Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully," Singh, the minister of state for science and technology, atomic energy and space, said in a post on 'X'. He recalled that the PSLV-C60/Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission was launched on December 30, 2024. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Don't Miss The Top Packaging Trends Of 2024, Enhnace Your Brand With The Latest Insights Packaging Machines | Search Ads Search Now Undo Thereafter satellites were successfully docked for the first time on January 16 and successfully undocked on March 13, the minister said. "Further experiments are planned in the next two weeks," Singh added. Live Events Later, in a statement, ISRO said the docking experiment of the SPADEX satellites (SDX-01 and SDX-02) for the second time was successfully carried out on April 20 at 08.20 pm. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories "Subsequently, power transfer from SDX-02 to SDX-01 satellite as well as vice versa was also exercised and accomplished on April 21. The experiment involved operating a heater element in one of the satellites through power from the other satellite," it said. The space agency said the duration of power transfer was approximately four minutes and the performance of the satellites was as expected. "In the second attempt, docking was completed with full autonomy from an inter-satellite distance of 15 metres till docking. In the first docking attempt, an additional hold point was manually exercised at an inter-satellite distance of 3 metres," the statement read. The second docking experiment was preceded by detailed ground simulations and on-orbit trials incorporating the experience gained from the first docking and undocking experiments, thereby providing immense confidence for the second docking demonstration, it said. "The demonstration of the fully autonomous second docking along with power transfer marks the completion of an important milestone in the SPADEX mission ," the space agency added. According to ISRO, the SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for in-space docking using two small spacecraft that were launched by PSLV. In space, docking is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. This experiment is crucial for ISRO's future missions, such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and the landing of an astronaut on the Moon.
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Business Standard
21-04-2025
- Science
- Business Standard
Isro achieves 2nd successful satellite docking under SPADEX: Jitendra Singh
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Monday successfully completed the second docking of satellites under its SPADEX mission. Union Minister Jitendra Singh confirmed the development and extended his congratulations to the Isro team. In a post on X, he said, "Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully." #ISRO SPADEX Update: Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully. As informed earlier, the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission was successfully launched on 30 December 2024. Thereafter the satellites were successfully docked for the first time… — Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) April 21, 2025 This event marked yet another significant milestone in India's space research program. The PSLV-C60/SPADEX mission was launched on December 30, 2024. Following the launch, the first successful docking occurred on January 16, 2025, at 6:20 a.m. The satellites were later undocked on March 13 at 9:20 a.m.. Isro has also announced that further experimental procedures are scheduled to take place over the next two weeks. He further wrote," As informed earlier, the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission was successfully launched on 30 December 2024. Thereafter, the satellites were successfully docked for the first time on 16 January 2025 at 06:20 AM and successfully undocked on 13 March 2025 at 09:20 AM. Further experiments are planned in the next two weeks." On March 13, Isro announced the successful completion of its SpaDeX mission's space de-docking. The undocking process involved a precise sequence of events, culminating in the separation of the SDX-01 (Chaser) and SDX-02 (Target) satellites, which were launched on December 30, 2024, using the 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 the 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 organisation, 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 designed to demonstrate in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by the PSLV. This technology is essential for India's space ambitions, including sending an Indian to the Moon, returning samples from the Moon, and building and operating the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS). In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. The SpaDeX spacecraft was designed and realised by the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) with the support of other Isro centres (VSSC, LPSC, SAC, IISU, and LEOS). (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
