ISRO Postpones SpaDex Docking Again; Here's Why

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday once again postponed the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEx) involving two satellites, citing excessive drift during a crucial manoeuvre.

The SpaDEx was supposed to take place on January 9.

"While making a manoeuvre to reach 225 m between satellites the drift was found to be more than expected, post non-visibility period. The planned docking for tomorrow is postponed. Satellites are safe. Stay tuned for updates," the space agency said in a post on X.

This is the second time when the ISRO postponed the SpaDEx.

The space agency had initially planned it on January 7, which was cancelled and postponed to Thursday, which again got cancelled.

With the SpaDex mission, India will join global leaders in space docking technology.

The SpaDeX mission will demonstrate India's first autonomous spacecraft docking via two satellites — Chaser and Target. The key mission was launched using a PSLV-C60 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Dec. 30.

The key objective of the SpaDeX Mission of ISRO is to build technology for docking and undocking a pair of small spacecraft in low earth orbit. The mission will also showcase electric power transfer between the docked spacecraft. This is critical for future missions like in-space robotics.  The objectives additionally include composite spacecraft control and payload operations after undocking.

In-space docking is a key to missions that need multiple rocket launches for various reasons. The successful execution of this mission will make India the fourth country to possess this capability.

The SpaDeX Mission launched two small spacecraft into a 470 km circular orbit at a 55-degree inclination aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket. The approximate duration of the mission is 66 days.

The SpaDeX docking event programme will be live-streamed on ISRO's official YouTube channel and other social media pages.