India launches space docking experiment mission

NEW DELHI

India on Monday launched the Space Docking Experiment, a mission to establish the country's “capability in orbital docking,” the country's space agency said.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in southern India at 10.00 pm local time (1630GMT), the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said.

“Successful separation of SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) satellites marks another milestone in India’s space journey,” it added.

According to the agency, the mission consists of two small spacecraft that were launched by PSLV-C60 and the primary objective is to “develop and demonstrate the technology needed for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft in a low-earth circular orbit.”

The agency said the mission is “a key technology for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions.”

Jitendra Singh, an Indian minister, said the country has become “the fourth to join the select league of nations to seek Space docking, through its own indigenously developed ‘Bharatiya Docking System'.”