ISRO’s PSLV-C60 carrying SpaDeX and its payloads, lifts off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) early on Sunday (January 12, 2025) announced that the SpaDeX satellites-SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) were moved within three metres in a trial attempt. It then moved the spacecraft back to safe distance.

“SpaDeX Docking Update: A trial attempt to reach up to 15 m and further to 3m is done. Moving back spacecrafts to safe distance, The docking process will be done after analysing data further,” the space agency posted on X.

Earlier in the day it said that the two satellites are within 15 metres from each other.

“SpaDeX Docking Update: At 15m we see each other clearer and clearer, we are just 50 feet away for an exciting handshake,” the space agency posted on X.

It also released photos and videos of the two satellites.

With this ISRO has overcome the setback it had suffered last week when a drift had occurred between the satellites which was found more than expected.

Due to this the docking experiment was postponed.

On January 8, 2025 hours before it was scheduled to carry out the SpaDeX docking experiment, ISRO said that the docking experiment which was scheduled to take place on January 9 has been postponed as the drift between the satellites was found more than expected.

The docking of the two satellites was initially scheduled for January 7 but was postponed to January 9. ISRO later arrested the drift.

The space agency is yet to announce when it will carry out the docking experiment.

ISRO launched the SpaDeX mission on December 30, 2024 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The SPAeX mission is an important project by ISRO which is designed to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for spacecraft rendezvous, docking and undocking using two small satellites.

The demonstration of this technology is essential for futuristic missions such as sending an Indian astronaut on the Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of the Indian Space Station.

If ISRO successfully executes the SpaDeX docking experiment making India the fourth country after the USA, Russia and China this historic feat.