The ambitious space docking experiment involving two satellites in orbit was once again postponed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Wednesday. The morning of January 9 was set aside for the occasion. It was previously rescheduled from January 7 to January 9.
“While making a maneuver to reach 225 m between satellites the drift was found to be more than expected, post non-visibility period,” ISRO wrote in an update on X. “The planned docking for tomorrow is postponed. Satellites are safe.”
ISRO intends to use two satellites in orbit to conduct its ambitious space docking project. India will have space docking capability, making it the fourth nation in the world if ISRO’s mission is successful.
The mission’s two satellites, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), were launched by ISRO on December 30 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota using a PSLV C60 rocket.
As planned, the two tiny spacecraft, each weighing roughly 220 kg, were launched into a circular orbit of 475 kilometers. According to ISRO, Spacecraft A (SDX01) and Spacecraft B (SDX02), the two spacecraft in the PSLV rocket, will be positioned in an orbit that maintains a distance of 5 km between them. They would eventually merge at a height of roughly 470 kilometers above Earth after scientists at ISRO headquarters attempted to bring them closer to within 3 meters.
For India to achieve its space goals, which include sending people to the Moon, collecting samples there, and constructing and running its own space station, Bharatiya Antariksh Station, in-space docking technology will be crucial. A cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for in-space docking, ISRO’s Space Docking experiment, if successful, would make India join an elite list featuring China, Russia and the United States.
