ISRO is set to launch PSLV-C60 consist of two small craft with the SpaDex mission, ending 2024. On December 30, at precisely 10:00:15 PM, PSLV-C60 with SpaDeX and innovative payloads are set for liftoff.
The mission is essential for India’s space ambitions such as Indian on Moon, sample return from the Moon, the building and operation of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc.
This ambitious project will take place on December 30, 2024, under the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) and the indigenous technology used for this mission is called the “Bharatiya Docking System”.
The PSLV-C60 will launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR in Sriharikota.
ISRO stated, “Launch Day is Here! Tonight at precisely 10:00:15 PM, PSLV-C60 with SpaDeX and innovative payloads are set for liftoff. SpaDeX (Space Docking Experiment) is a pioneering mission to establish India’s capability in orbital docking, a key technology for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions. Liftoff: 30 Dec, 10:00:15 PM (22:00:15 hours) Stay tuned for updates!”
For live launch see through the link
The objective of the SpaDex mission
The main goal of the SpaDeX mission is to create and test the technology required for two small spacecraft, SDX01 (the Chaser) and SDX02 (the Target), to meet, dock, and separate in a low-Earth orbit.
The secondary goals are:
- Showing how electric power can be transferred between the spacecraft while docked, which is important for future uses like space robots.
- Controlling the spacecraft as a single unit when docked.
- Performing tasks with the payload after the spacecraft undock.
SpaDex Mission
The SpaDeX mission involves two small spacecraft, each weighing about 220 kg, launched together by PSLV-C60 into a 470 km circular orbit with a 55° inclination. The orbit has a local time cycle of about 66 days. The mission starts with the Target satellite separating 15 minutes after launch, followed soon after by the Chaser. This incremental velocity will allow the Target spacecraft to build a 10-20 km inter-satellite separation with respect to the Chaser within a day. At this point, the relative velocity between the Target will be compensated using the propulsion system of the Target spacecraft.
At the end of this drift arrest maneuver, the Target and Chaser will be in the same orbit with identical velocity but separated by about 20 km, known as Far Rendezvous. With a similar strategy of introducing and then compensating for a small relative velocity between the two spacecraft, the Chaser will approach the Target with progressively reduced inter-satellite distances of 5 km, 1.5 km, 500 m, 225 m, 15 m, and 3 m, ultimately leading to the docking of the two spacecraft.
After successful docking and rigidization, electrical power transfer between the two satellites will be demonstrated before undocking and separation of the two satellites to start the operation of their respective payloads for the expected mission life of up to two years.
