ISRO achieves critical milestone in SpaDeX mission's lunar exploration efforts

On March 13, 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced the successful completion of the SpaDeX mission's space de-docking, which marks a significant advancement in India's space exploration ambitions. This achievement follows the previous docking accomplishment of the two SpaDeX satellites, SDX-01 and SDX-02, on January 16, 2025, and highlights India's growing capabilities in spacecraft maneuvering technology. The de-docking process involved careful coordination of maneuvers including the extension of the target satellite, the release of capture levers, and the successful completion of the separation of the satellites. Union Minister Jitendra Singh congratulated the ISRO team and emphasized the milestone's importance in paving the way for future missions. The successful demonstration of in-space docking technology is crucial for India's upcoming projects such as the Bharatiya Antriksha Station, Chandrayaan-4, and Gaganyaan. The SpaDeX mission, representing a cost-effective technology demonstration, signifies India's entry into an elite group of countries capable of sophisticated space operations, including docking and undocking of spacecraft. Developed by the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) with contributions from various ISRO centers, the mission is expected to bolster future interplanetary exploration and satellite service operations.