🐻The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to close off 2024 with a bang. ISRO is all set to make history with the launch of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) on Monday.
꧃This mission would involve launching two specially designed satellites using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
🐭With this mission, ISRO looks to demonstrate the art of satellite docking in space.
ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚIf the launch is successful, India would join the United States, Russia and China as the only countries to have mastered this technique of docking satellites.
About The Mission
𒁃This mission will mark the first time ISRO will attempt in-space docking.
🐼As per the space agency, SpaDeX has been designed to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for docking and undocking in space with the use of two small satellites.
🐠“SpaDeX will serve as a milestone in advancing India’s capabilities in space docking, a critical technology for future space missions, including satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary missions,” said ISRO.
🌊The SpaDeX launch is expected to lay the foundation for India's future space missions such as -
🤪Preparing for the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program
🉐Enabling Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return missions
🍃Developing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), India's proposed space station35
SpaDeX Launch Tonight
♍The SpaDeX mission will be launched today - December 30, 2024 - marking ISRO's last mission of the year.
🐬The launch is scheduled at 9.58 PM. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
𓆏The PSLV-C60 will launch the two small spacecraft Chaser and Target also named SDX01 and SDX02 weighing about 220 kg each into a 470 km circular orbit at 55-degree inclination separately.
꧃SDX02 spacecraft will be the first to separate 15 minutes after the launch, followed by SDX01 spacecraft a few seconds later.
