India’s Space Docking Milestone

 India’s Space Docking Milestone

On March 18, 2025, India became the fourth country, after the US, Russia, and China, to successfully demonstrate space docking and undocking capabilities.

ISRO autonomously undocked two satellites, SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target), in space, showcasing India’s proficiency in performing complex orbital maneuvers critical for future space missions.

Space Docking is the process of gradually bringing two spacecraft in orbit closer together until they join. This enables the assembly of large spacecraft in space, which would be too heavy to launch in a single mission.

Space Undocking refers to the separation of a spacecraft from a space station or another spacecraft. This ability is vital for India’s upcoming projects, including the Bhartiya Antriksh Station (planned for 2035) and a human mission to the Moon (targeted for 2040). The Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to return lunar soil and rock samples, will rely on this technology.

Historical milestones include:

• 1966: NASA’s Gemini VIII, commanded by Neil Armstrong, performed the first manual space docking with the Agena vehicle.
• 1967: The USSR’s Kosmos 186 and Kosmos 188 spacecraft achieved the first autonomous docking.
• 2011: China carried out its first unmanned docking.
• 2012: China achieved its first crewed docking.

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