India successfully conducts historic space-docking test

India has achieved a remarkable milestone in its space exploration journey! On December 30, 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully launched the SpaDeX mission from the Sriharikota launch pad in southern India. This mission marked a significant moment as it was the first time India successfully conducted a space docking operation, where two small spacecraft were joined together in space. This technology is crucial for India's future ambitions, including the construction of an Indian space station and sending astronauts to the Moon. The two spacecraft involved in the mission are known as the Chaser and the Target. They were launched together on a single rocket and separated in space to perform the docking procedure. Initially, the docking was scheduled for January 7, but it faced several delays. However, on Thursday morning, Isro proudly announced that it had made history by becoming only the fourth country in the world to achieve such a feat, following the United States, Russia, and China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present at the Isro office in Bangalore during the test and later expressed his excitement on social media, stating that this accomplishment is a significant stepping stone for India's ambitious space missions in the future. Federal Science Minister Jitendra Singh also shared his relief that the docking had finally taken place. The two spacecraft, designated as SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target), each weigh approximately 220 kilograms. Since their launch, they have been traveling in space at a carefully controlled speed. Mila Mitra, a former NASA scientist and co-founder of a space education company, explained that the spacecraft were initially separated by a distance of 10 to 20 kilometers to facilitate the docking process. Scientists had to maneuver the spacecraft to close that distance and successfully connect them. The docking was initially planned for January 7, but Isro decided to delay it by two days to conduct additional testing through simulations. During the second attempt, there was a glitch while trying to bring the satellites closer together. However, on Sunday, Isro announced that scientists had successfully reduced the distance between the Chaser and the Target to just 3 meters. After the trial attempt, the spacecraft were moved back to a safe distance for data analysis. One of the exciting experiments on the SpaDeX mission involved growing crops in microgravity. On Monday, Isro tweeted that the cowpea plants aboard the mission had sprouted their first leaves in space. This achievement is significant as it suggests that future astronauts could grow food during long-duration missions. S Somanath, who was the head of Isro when the SpaDeX mission was launched, described the docking process as a complex task that requires extreme precision and coordination. The two spacecraft needed to be in the same orbit for the Chaser to approach the Target. On Thursday morning, scientists began by gradually reducing the speed of both spacecraft, bringing them closer until they were just 3 meters apart. Once they were close enough, their connectors were latched together, creating an airtight passage for the safe transfer of materials or crew. An Isro official mentioned that over the next two to three days, the mission would conduct one of its most important experiments, which involves transferring electrical power from the Chaser to the Target. This experiment aims to demonstrate that a spacecraft can be sent to service another in space. Additionally, the mission will test India's capabilities for inter-satellite communication, as the spacecraft will need to communicate with each other and with the Earth station during the docking and undocking processes. The success of the SpaDeX mission is critical for India's future space ambitions. The spacecraft are also equipped with scientific instruments and cameras that will be deployed to measure radiation in space and monitor natural resources on Earth. Isro is known for its cost-effective missions, and they are utilizing a part of the rocket that carried SpaDeX to space to conduct important experiments in orbit for three months. The POEM, which stands for PS4-Orbital Experiment Module, is carrying 24 payloads and has already completed two successful experiments. The first experiment demonstrated seed germination in microgravity, and last week, Isro shared a video showing that cowpea sprouts have unveiled their first leaves in space. This is exciting news as it indicates that astronauts could potentially grow food during long missions. The second experiment involves a robotic arm, which is considered one of the most important payloads of the mission. A video shared on Isro's social media account shows the robotic arm moving to grab a piece of space debris. This arm will play a crucial role in the construction of the space station and will also be useful for India's upcoming mission to the Moon, Chandrayaan-4, which aims to collect and return lunar soil samples.