New Delhi [India]: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on achieving a historic milestone by successfully docking two satellites, marking India as the fourth nation to accomplish this feat.
Congratulations to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 16, 2025
“Congratulations to our scientists at ISRO and the entire space fraternity for the successful demonstration of space docking of satellites. It is a significant stepping stone for India’s ambitious space missions in the years to come,” PM Modi shared on X.
Historic Feat: SpaDeX Mission Success
ISRO announced the successful completion of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), showcasing India’s indigenous capabilities in satellite docking technology. The SpaDeX mission involved maneuvering two small spacecraft (Chaser and Target) from 15 meters to 3 meters and achieving precise spacecraft capture.
“Docking Success: Spacecraft docking successfully completed! A historic moment,” ISRO posted on X. Post docking, the control of both satellites as a single object was verified, with undocking and power transfer checks scheduled in the coming days.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh’s Remarks
Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised the success of SpaDeX, emphasizing its significance for upcoming projects like the Bharatiya Antariksha Station and Chandrayaan-4.
“SPADEX has accomplished the unbelievable… and it is all indigenous ‘Bharatiya Docking System.’ This paves the way for the smooth conduct of future ambitious missions, including Chandrayaan 4 and Gaganyaan,” he stated.
The Union Minister also credited PM Modi’s leadership for consistently inspiring India’s scientific community and raising the bar for innovation.
A Step Toward Future Space Ambitions
According to SpaDeX Project Director N Surendran, this experiment is pivotal for future missions that require advanced docking mechanisms, including India’s proposed space station and interplanetary exploration initiatives.
The docking technology demonstrated in SpaDeX also enables power transfer between docked spacecraft, a capability essential for in-orbit assembly, robotics, and payload management.
India’s Space Glory Continues
This achievement follows ISRO’s recent strides, including the Chandrayaan-3 success, reinforcing India’s status as a global space power. The SpaDeX success is expected to accelerate India’s ambitious space exploration agenda, including human spaceflight and international collaborations.
With India now joining the elite group of nations capable of satellite docking, the nation inches closer to establishing a permanent presence in space.