Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh congratulated ISRO for successfully completing the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), utilising the indigenous Bharatiya Docking System. This achievement is a significant milestone for future missions like the Bhartiya Antriksh Station, Chandrayaan 4, and Gaganyaan, with PM Narendra Modi’s support boosting ISRO’s efforts.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday congratulated ISRO scientists and engineers for accomplishing the space docking experiment and said it would pave the way for future missions, including the Bhartiya Antriksh Station. Singh, also the minister of state in the prime minister’s office, took to X to greet scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

“Congrats ISRO. Finally made it. SpaDeX has accomplished the unbelievable… docking complete… and it is all indigenous ‘Bharatiya Docking System’,” Singh said.

“This paves the way for smooth conduct of ambitious future missions including the Bhartiya Antriksh Station, Chandrayaan 4 and Gaganyaan,” the minister said.

Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continuous patronage has kept the spirits soaring at ISRO in Bengaluru.

Space agency ISRO successfully performed the docking of satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), a crucial step towards several future missions, including setting up of the Bhartiya Antriksh Station.

The historic moment came just days after the space agency, on January 12, brought the two spacecraft to three metres and then placed them back at a safe distance in its trial attempt to dock the satellites.

The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission was successfully launched on December 30, 2024.

ISRO shared the docking process of the SpaDeX satellites in a post on X and said that it begins with the completion of a manoeuvre from 15m to 3m hold point.

Then docking is initiated with precision, leading to a successful spacecraft capture. “Retraction completed smoothly, followed by rigidisation for stability. Docking successfully completed,” it said.

Notably, India became the fourth country to achieve this successful space docking after the United States, Russia, and China.

Post docking, the space agency said, the control of two satellites as a single object was also successful. “Undocking and power transfer checks to follow in coming days,”  said in an ISRO update on the mission.

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NKR/PSM

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