After the Spadex satellites were successfully docked on January, 16, 2025, ISRO has now accomplished the pivotal operation of undocking of the satellites in the very first attempt on Thursday and has successfully demonstrated space docking technology using two small satellites, SDX01 Chaser, and SDX02, the Target.Having accomplished this major milestone of undocking, further experiments with satellites are planned in the coming days.
The pivotal operation was performed on 13th March, 2025 at 0920 hrs, ISRO said in a release.
The undocking of the satellites took place in 460 km circular orbit with 45-degree inclination.
The satellites are now orbiting independently and their health is normal.
With this, ISRO has now successfully demonstrated all the capabilities required for rendezvous, docking and undocking operations in a circular orbit.
The in-orbit performance of the docked satellites was extensively analysed and an immediate opportunity was found to be feasible from March 10, 2025 till March 25, 2025.
The entire operations were monitored through ground stations located at Bengaluru, Lucknow and Mauritius.
Exhaustive ground simulations and analysis were the cornerstone of achieving the undocking in the first attempt itself. Various tests replicating on-orbit conditions were meticulously planned and carried out in preparation for the earliest opportunity for undocking operations, it said.
ISRO has now successfully demonstrated space docking technology using two small satellites. It is a cost-effective experiment through which, India has achieved space rendezvous, docking and post docking control technologies.