The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission was launched on December 30, 2024, from Sriharikota on the PSLV-C60. The two satellites, weighing 220 kg each, were launched into the 470 km circular orbit at a 55-degree inclination with a local time cycle of 66 days. The mission cost Rs 370 crore.According to ISRO, while the docking was done at 1:00:04 on Thursday, the scientists took their time to analyse the data and confirm the news with images and videos before making it public. At 10:04 am, ISRO, on its X platform, posted that the docking had been completed successfully. ISRO announced the undocking at 12:21 pm.It may be recollected that initially, the docking was to take place on January 7, but then it was postponed to January 9, as the distance between the two satellites was 500 metres and 225 metres. Later, the two satellites, also called the Target and Chaser, were brought as close as 3 metres and were then separated to a safer distance again by the teams.
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