India’s space agency, ISRO, has successfully separated two spacecraft in a groundbreaking mission that will aid in demonstrating space docking, a vital technology for future space missions. The two spacecraft were placed into their desired low Earth orbit late on Monday night, marking a significant milestone for India’s space ambitions.
The mission, launched aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, is considered a precursor to ISRO’s plans to establish its own space station by 2035. The successful separation of the spacecraft is also a key step in ISRO’s mission to join an elite group of countries capable of space docking, which is expected to occur in the coming days.
ISRO’s mission director, M Jayakumar, confirmed the success of the PSLV-C60 mission, stating that the separation of the spacecraft marked a major achievement in the agency’s space exploration journey. “PSLV C60 mission accomplished as of SpaDeX spacecraft is considered,” Jayakumar said.
The PSLV-C60 rocket, which stands at 44.5 metres tall, carried two spacecraft – Spacecraft A (SDX01), or the “Chaser,” and Spacecraft B (SDX02), or the “Target.” Each spacecraft weighed 220kg and was designed to assist in demonstrating space docking, satellite servicing, and interplanetary missions. The spacecrafts will eventually merge at an altitude of approximately 470 km after travelling at the same speed and distance, allowing scientists to test the intricate process of docking in space.
The rocket’s successful launch at 10 pm on Monday followed a tense 25-hour countdown that began on Sunday. The lift-off from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, located about 135 km east of Chennai, was accompanied by thick orange-coloured fumes and a thunderous roar that echoed across the island. This was a critical moment for ISRO, as the successful launch signified India’s growing capabilities in space exploration.
The significance of this mission cannot be overstated, as it lays the groundwork for several future space objectives for India. Space docking technology is essential for missions that require multiple rocket launches to achieve common objectives, such as the Chandrayaan-4 mission to the Moon, which will involve collecting samples from the lunar surface, and the construction and operation of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, India’s own space station.
By mastering space docking technology, ISRO will be able to enhance its operational flexibility and expand its mission horizons. This technology will also prove invaluable for future interplanetary missions and satellite servicing tasks.
“India is now marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology,” ISRO stated. The other countries to have achieved this technological feat are China, Russia, and the United States.
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While the two spacecraft have successfully reached their designated orbits, scientists will now focus on reducing the distance between them in the coming days. This will ultimately lead to the successful docking of the spacecraft, marking a key achievement for ISRO in the field of space exploration.
The PSLV-C60 mission also marks the end of ISRO’s 2024 mission schedule. The space agency had begun the year with the successful launch of the PSLV-C58/XPOSAT mission on January 1. This latest launch of the PSLV rocket is also notable for being the first vehicle to be integrated up to the fourth stage at the PSLV Integration Facility (PIF) at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
This successful mission is another testament to ISRO’s growing prowess in space technology, setting the stage for India’s future space exploration initiatives and its entry into the exclusive group of countries capable of mastering space docking.
