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Listen to Story The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Saturday revealed the first look of its groundbreaking Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) satellites , marking a pivotal step in India’s journey toward mastering in-space docking technology. The mission, set to launch aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C60 (PSLV-C60), will catapult India into an elite group of nations with this advanced capability. SpaDeX is India’s inaugural mission aimed at demonstrating autonomous docking technology in space — a critical innovation for future complex space operations. The mission represents a cost-effective and strategic leap forward for Isro, which aims to enhance the nation’s capabilities in space exploration and infrastructure. Through this, India is poised to join the US, Russia, and China as one of the few nations adept at in-space docking. "ISRO's SpaDeX mission, launching with PSLV-C60, will demonstrate in-space docking using two small spacecraft. This groundbreaking technology is key to future lunar missions, building Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), and more," the national space agency announced in a post on X. The primary goal of the SpaDeX mission is to showcase the technology required for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft — SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target) — in a low-Earth circular orbit. Weighing approximately 220 kg each, these spacecraft will be independently launched into a 470 km circular orbit at a 55 degree inclination. Their operation will be guided by a local time cycle of about 66 days. Additionally, the mission has secondary objectives, including: Demonstrating the transfer of electric power between docked spacecraft, a cornerstone for in-space robotics and other futuristic applications Managing composite spacecraft control Conducting payload operations after undocking This technological achievement is essential for Isro's ambitious roadmap, including the Chandrayaan-4 mission, which aims to retrieve lunar samples, and the creation of the Bharatiya Antariksh Space Station (BAS). In-space docking technology plays a crucial role when multiple rocket launches are required to accomplish shared mission objectives, such as lunar exploration and sample return missions. The SpaDeX mission's success will not only bolster India's lunar ambitions but also lay the groundwork for more complex endeavours, including the operation and expansion of BAS. The transfer of electric power and composite control demonstrated by SpaDeX will also be pivotal for deploying in-space robotics in future missions. If successful, the mission will solidify India's standing as a major player in space technology and innovation, driving forward the nation’s vision of creating a robust and sustainable space infrastructure.