The primary project director for the SpaDeX space docking experiment left the role.
The first docking milestone with the SPADEX satellites was accomplished earlier this year in circular Earth orbit.
SPADEX 2, awaiting financial sanction, will demonstrate docking in elliptical orbit similar to the operations planned for Chandrayaan 4.
The PSLV that launched the twin SPADEX satellites on December 30, 2024 was intentionally delayed by 2 minutes and 15 seconds for collision avoidance with known orbital objects.
SPADEX is the first of three planned missions, and at least one of the next two SPADEX missions will demonstrate docking in an elliptical orbit to better simulate scenarios for Chandrayaan 4.
The SpaDeX mission carried two satellites, designated the Chaser (SDX01) and the Target (SDX02), each weighing 220 kilograms, into a circular low Earth orbit.
ISRO is using SPADEX docking experiments to reduce risk for its upcoming Gaganyaan human spaceflight missions, including an end-of-decade cargo flight to the International Space Station and a cargo flight to India’s first space station module.
On January 16, 2026 ISRO docked and controlled two twin satellites in circular low Earth orbit as part of the SPADEX (space docking experiment) mission.
The docking process typically occurs within a few hours due to ample fuel on most spacecraft, but the SpaDeX mission's satellites weighed only 220 kilograms, limiting fuel capacity.
The primary objective of the PSLV-C60 mission was to test docking technology with two satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission.
ISRO is using the $14 million SPADEX mission, excluding launch cost, as practice before launching the more complex Chandrayaan 4 lunar sample-return mission.
ISRO employed an androgynous docking mechanism for the SpaDeX mission, which is similar to the International Docking System Standard (IDSS) but utilized only two motors instead of 24.
On 2024-12-30 India launched the SpaDeX docking demonstration spacecraft into orbit as part of lunar sampling, space station, and human spaceflight efforts.
Docking technology demonstrated by SpaDeX is planned to be needed for India’s Chandrayaan-4 lunar south pole sampling mission expected to launch around 2027 or 2028.