December 21st 2024.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced on Saturday that the launch vehicle for India's SpaDeX mission has been successfully integrated and moved to the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. This mission aims to showcase the technology required for docking and undocking of spacecrafts in outer space, among other objectives.
In a social media post, ISRO stated that the launch vehicle has completed its integration and has now been moved to the First Launch Pad for further preparations and the integration of satellites. According to ISRO, the SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator, which involves the use of two small spacecrafts launched by PSLV. This technology is crucial for India's space ambitions, including the exploration of the Moon, sample return missions, and the construction and operation of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station.
The main purpose of the SpaDeX mission is to demonstrate the 'in-space docking' technology, which is vital for missions that require multiple rocket launches to achieve common objectives. With this mission, India is steadily making its way towards becoming the fourth country in the world to possess this advanced technology. The successful launch of PSLV-C59/Probas-3 mission on December 9, was a major milestone for ISRO. Shortly after, ISRO chairman and secretary of the Department of Space, S Somanath, had announced that a similar mission was in the works and is set to be launched in December itself.
Somanath had shared that this upcoming mission, PSLV-C60, will conduct a space docking experiment called SpaDex. He further added that the rocket is ready and the final preparations for the launch are underway. According to ISRO, the SpaDeX mission comprises of two small spacecrafts that will be launched independently and simultaneously by PSLV-C60. The spacecrafts will be placed in a 470 km circular orbit at an inclination of 55° and a local time cycle of 66 days.
The SpaDeX mission was conceived to develop and demonstrate the technology required for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecrafts in a low-Earth circular orbit. This will pave the way for future missions and advancements in space technology. The ISRO team is working tirelessly to ensure the success of this mission and bring India one step closer to its space exploration goals.
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