Chennai: In what could herald yet another milestone in its space journey, and a game changer for future missions, including Chandrayaan-4, the fourth Lunar mission and Gaganyaan, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all geared up for its maiden space docking mission SpadeX satellite from the SHAR Range on December 30.
ISRO will be using its reliable and workhorse launch vehicle PSLV-C60 for the mission
which in all likelihood with take place from the First Launch Pad at the spaceport of
Sriharikota.
In a post on X, ISRO said Spaceflight on X: “Through internal sources, we have confirmed
that in addition to SPADEX, ISRO is set to also conduct their tethered satellite capture via
robotic arm experiment on their very next mission – PSLV-C60!’.
“So far, what we already know about this experiment is that it will involve some sort of a free flying cubesat tethered to the POEM platform, which will be captured with the help of a robotic arm fitted on POEM”, it said.
“Demonstrating this technology will be an important step towards ISRO’s future plans to
develop space debris capture and deorbit, as well as in-orbit spacecraft servicing and
refueling capabilities”, ISRO posted.
“As of this writing, PSLV-C60 is expected to lift off on December 30”, the space agency said.
The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDEX), comprising two satellites, will mark India’s first
mission to showcase the autonomous docking technology in space.
The mission also proposed to demonstrate technologies vital for India’s future human
spaceflight, the maiden Gaganyaan mission, scheduled likely in 2025-26.
The SpadeX mission comes in the backdrop of successful launch of European Space Agency’s Proba-3 two-satellites formation flying mission using PSLV-C59, which had achieved its launch objectives by precisely injecting both the spacecrafts in the intended orbit on December 5 At that time, ISRO Chairman S.Somanath said the space agency was gearing up for the next mission, the SpadeX using PSLV-C60 and the preparatory works had already started and the launch will take place later this month.
ISRO will be again using its XL version for the Spadex Mission.
SPADEX or Space Docking Experiment is a twin satellite mission developed by ISRO to
mature technologies related to orbital rendezvous, docking, formation flying, with scope
of applications in human spaceflight, in-space satellite servicing and other proximity
operations.
SPADEX campaign would consist of two IMS class-2 class (400 kg) satellites, christened
Chaser and Target.
Both would be launched as co-passengers or auxiliary payloads and would be injected into
slightly different orbits in two components which will then reunite in space, essential for
enabling spacecraft refuelling, besides extending their operational life, and transferring critical systems between vehicles in orbit.
The objectives of the mission was Autonomous rendezvous and docking Controlling one
spacecraft with Attitude Control System of other spacecraft while in docked configuration,
besides Formation flying and Remote robotic arm operation.
Reports said with preliminary studies done in 2016, Space Docking Experiment was
approved by the Union Government and cleared in 2017. In June 2019, ISRO was
looking for proposals to study remote robotic arm operation, rendezvous and docking
related technologies on its PSLV fourth stage (PS4) orbital platform called POEM.
The Space firm Ananth Technologies Limited finished the satellite assembly, integration,
and testing for ISRO, delivering them to the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC).
The docking is a crucial component of Chandrayaan-4 and that ISRO intended SPADEX
as a forerunner.
Satellites for the SPADEX mission are further tested and finished and complete simulation
demonstration was performed on it.
Both the planned Bharatiya Antariksha Station and Gaganyaan space flights hinges on
this mission’s success.
