India becomes 4th nation to achieve space docking with indigenously developed ‘Bharatiya docking system’: Jitendra Singh

New Delhi : Following the successful launch of the SpaDeX mission, Union Minister of state Jitendra Singh stated that India has become the fourth country to join the select league of nations to achieve space docking through its own indigenously developed “Bharatiya Docking System.”

Taking to X, Singh said, “India has become the fourth country to join the select league of nations to achieve space docking, through its own indigenously developed ‘Bharatiya Docking System.'”

“Privileged to be associated with the Department of Space at a time when Team #ISRO mesmerizes the world with global wonders, one after the other.” the Minister added,

Hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi for laying the road to “Viksit Bharat,” Singh said, “A humble tribute to PM @narendramodi’s mantra of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ heading towards ‘Viksit Bharat,’ which will pave the way for a journey beyond the skies for ‘Gaganyaan’ and ‘Bharatiya Antriksha Station.'”

Meanwhile, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for the launch of the NVS-02 satellite in January 2025, aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), said ISRO Chairman S. Somanath. Speaking about the upcoming mission, Somanath added that this mission is just one of many planned for the upcoming year.

“In 2025, we have many missions. To start with, we have the mission of GSLV launching the NVS-02 in the month of January,” Somanath said.
Earlier, on May 29, 2023, the GSLV-F12 rocket successfully launched the NVS-01 satellite, weighing 2,232 kg, into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). According to an ISRO statement, the NVS-01 satellite featured an indigenous atomic clock and was designed to enhance the capabilities of NavIC, including L1 band signals for broader service coverage. The NVS-02 mission is likely to continue this progress, further strengthening the NavIC system with advanced features.

The announcement was made by Somanath after the successful launch of PSLV-C60, which carried the SpaDeX and other payloads. Following the launch, Somanath highlighted the importance of docking for the Chandrayaan-4 mission, confirming that the final docking is expected to occur around January 7, 2025.

“Chandrayaan-4 has multiple modules, five in total, which will be launched at different times and integrated into two separate modules. These modules need to reach orbit and then dock both in Earth orbit and Moon orbit. Docking is essential for Chandrayaan-4. This mission aims to go to the Moon, land there, return to Earth, and complete the journey successfully,” Somanath explained.

He further added, “This is one of the proving grounds for Chandrayaan-4. Docking will begin tomorrow, and many processes will take place, but the final docking will likely happen by January 7.”

Somanath also celebrated ISRO’s 99th launch, saying, “For us, this is the 99th launch of any launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. It’s a very significant milestone. We’re preparing for the 100th launch at the start of next year. In this 99th launch, PSLV-C60 successfully placed two SpaDeX satellites, weighing 220 kilograms, into a circular orbit of 475 kilometers.”

He further explained that SpaDeX would undergo various operations starting tomorrow, working towards its docking condition, with the final docking expected by January 7, 2025. “This is not the first SpaDeX; there will be more varieties, including demonstrations of bigger and more complex versions of docking systems in the coming days,” he added.

The SpaDeX mission, ISRO’s year-end project, is historic as it aims to achieve the rare feat of docking or merging two satellites in space. The project is a cost-effective technology demonstration mission for in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV.
The primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology required for the rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft (SDX01, the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target) in low-Earth circular orbit. Docking technology is crucial for long-term missions like Chandrayaan-4, the planned Indian space station, and the eventual manned Gaganyaan mission.