ISRO achieves successful satellite docking, making India the fourth country to do so

India's space agency ISRO has successfully completed its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, making India the fourth country to achieve in-space satellite docking. The mission involved two small satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, launched on December 30, 2024. The satellites, each weighing 220 kg, were placed in a 475-km orbit. A trial on January 12 brought the satellites within 3 meters of each other before they safely separated. SpaDeX serves as a cost-effective technology demonstrator, important for future missions that require docking capabilities for multiple launches.