Bengaluru: ISRO informed on Sunday that the two satellites it launched were brought to a safe distance of three metres for docking experiments before moving back to safety in a trial attempt. The space agency also said the docking process would be done after further analysis of the data, PTI reported.
"A trial attempt to reach up to 15 metres and further to three metres is done. Moving back spacecraft to a safe distance. The docking process will be done after further analysis of the data," ISRO said in a post on X.
The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) project missed two announced docking experiments scheduled for January 7 and January 9.
ISRO launched the mission on December 30.
The PSLV C60 rocket, carrying two small satellites -- SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target) -- along with 24 payloads, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. About 15 minutes later, the two small spacecraft weighing about 220 kilogrammes each were launched into a 475-kilometre circular orbit, as intended.
The SpaceX project is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using small spacecraft, according to ISRO.
A successful demonstration of SpaDeX will make India the fourth nation to master the complex technologies that are crucial for its future missions, such as the Bharatiya Antariksh Station and landing an astronaut on the moon.
In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.