India has etched its name further into space exploration history, as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully completed the second docking of satellites under its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX).
The announcement, made by Union Minister Jitendra Singh, highlights India’s growing technological capabilities in orbital mechanics.
#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
India became the fourth country in the world to achieve satellite docking, joining the ranks of global space pioneers. The PSLV-C60 mission, which launched on December 30, 2024, successfully placed the spacecraft SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) into a 475-km circular orbit. The first docking occurred on January 16, 2025, followed by undocking on March 13, 2025.
ISRO’s SpaDeX is designed to showcase cost-effective in-space docking technology, opening doors for future advanced missions, orbital refuelling, and space station assembly. More experiments are scheduled over the next two weeks, solidifying India’s position as a frontrunner in space innovation.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh expressed his enthusiasm for the milestone, stating: “India’s SpaDeX mission is a leap forward in space technology, proving our capability to perform complex manoeuvres crucial for future interplanetary and satellite servicing missions.”
As India continues to advance its space docking technology, the successful execution of SpaDeX underscores the nation’s commitment to innovative and cost-effective space solutions.
