ISRO postpones Spadex mission docking to January 9

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced the postponement of the docking of its Spadex mission program, initially scheduled for January 7, 2025. The new date for the docking has been set for January 9, 2025. ISRO has not provided any specific reason for the change in schedule.

In a message, ISRO stated, "With reference to the above subject, we would like to inform you that, the Docking of Spadex mission experimental programme has been postponed to Thursday, 09th January 2025. The timings of the programme will be informed later."

ISRO further expressed regret over any inconvenience caused due to the delay, but did not elaborate on the cause of the schedule adjustment.


Meanwhile, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh last week said that the SpaDeX mission was named as "Bharatiya Docking Technology" because it is purely an indigenous mission and India is carrying out first such experiment related to docking technology.

The Union MoS further stated that SpaDeX's mission very much aligns with Prime Minister Modi's vision of "Aatmanirbhar Bharat".

Addressing a press conference, Singh said, "The launch of the SpaDeX mission is one of the first experiments undertaken by India as far as the docking technology is concerned. It is a purely indigenous technology and that's why it's been appropriately named Bharatiya Docking Technology. That is very much in keeping with PM Modi's mantra for Aatmanirbhar Bharat..."

On December 30, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a historic feat by launching PSLV-C60 with SpaDeX and innovative payloads.

SpaDeX mission is a cost-effective technology demonstrator mission for the demonstration of in-space docking using two small spacecraft launched by PSLV. The primary objective of the SpaDeX mission is to develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft (SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target, nominally) in a Low-Earth circular orbit.