ISRO Dismisses Glitch Reports in SpaDeX Docking, Confirms Mission Progress

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has dismissed reviews suggesting points in its maiden area docking mission, SpaDeX. On February 8, ISRO Chairman and Secretary, Department of Space, V Narayanan, clarified that no technical faults had been encountered within the docking course of. He said that the mission was progressing systematically and that additional experiments have been deliberate. His remarks have been made in the course of the fifteenth Biennial Edition of the Aero India International Seminar in Bengaluru, scheduled from February 10 to 14. The docking of satellites underneath SpaDeX was carried out efficiently on January 16, with post-docking management enabling the satellites to perform as a single entity.

Successful Docking and Mission Details

As reported by The Indian Express, in accordance with ISRO, SpaDeX achieved a major milestone by docking two satellites in orbit, with docking precision confirmed via manoeuvres. The company reported that post-docking stability was achieved, with the satellites working as a unified construction. The mission additionally concerned injecting the NVS-02 navigation satellite tv for pc right into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

ISRO detailed the docking process, stating in a publish on X (previously Twitter) that the satellites have been manoeuvred from a 15-metre distance to a 3-metre maintain level earlier than initiating seize. The docking course of was accomplished with retraction and rigidisation for structural stability. With this improvement, India turned the fourth nation globally to realize area docking.

Challenges in Orbit Raising Operations

Despite the profitable docking, ISRO issued an replace on February 2 indicating that makes an attempt to boost the satellite tv for pc’s orbit had encountered difficulties. The company defined that the oxidiser valves, essential for thruster ignition, had did not open, stopping orbital repositioning. The problem stays underneath evaluation as ISRO assesses doable options.

The SpaDeX mission was launched on December 30, 2024, utilizing the PSLV C60 rocket, which deployed two small satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, right into a 475-kilometre orbit. The mission serves as an indication of in-space docking capabilities, aiming to advance cost-effective area expertise for future functions.