ISRO’s satellite docking Mission in the coming days.

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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to conduct its SpaDeX Docking Mission in the coming days,which will involve the proximity and subsequent joining of two small satellites in space, marking the first instance of docking for the nation. Achieving this milestone would position India as the fourth country globally, following the United States, Russia, and China, to possess such capabilities. On January 12, ISRO executed a preliminary trial, successfully bringing the Chaser and Target satellites within three meters of each other before safely distancing them again. The agency is currently analyzing the data collected to facilitate a successful docking operation in the near future.

The two satellites, each weighing 220 kg, were launched on December 30 from Sriharikota, India’s sole spaceport. During their deployment into a circular orbit at an altitude of 450 km, a relative velocity was imparted to the satellites, enabling them to drift apart in preparation for the docking procedure. Although the docking was initially scheduled for January 7 and later postponed to January 9, the mission remains on track. Docking involves the intricate process of aligning two fast-moving spacecraft into the same orbit, followed by their manual or autonomous approach and eventual connection. This capability is essential not only for constructing a space station, where various modules are assembled in orbit, but also for transporting crew and supplies to such facilities.