India’s space agency has revealed new details about its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), confirming that the mission completed a second in-orbit docking on March 20, 2025. The spacecraft later performed an undocking and a closed-loop circumnavigation manoeuvre on April 25, 2025.
The SpaDeX mission was launched aboard PSLV-C60 on December 30, 2024. It involved 2 small satellites designed to demonstrate advanced rendezvous and docking technologies in low-Earth orbit.
The satellites, SDX01 and SDX02, carried out a series of highly precise manoeuvres during the mission. SDX01 acted as the chaser satellite, while SDX02 served as the target. The spacecraft approached each other, docked in orbit, separated and later manoeuvred around each other during the experiment.
The first docking between the satellites was achieved on January 16, 2025. However, the newly disclosed experiment highlights the mission’s extended capabilities. After reconnecting in orbit on March 20, the spacecraft later separated and performed a closed-loop circumnavigation manoeuvre. In this operation, one satellite autonomously flew around the other along a controlled orbital path before completing the manoeuvre on April 25.
Such manoeuvres are considered among the most complex operations in spacecraft navigation. They require extremely precise control of distance, velocity and orientation between 2 spacecraft moving at nearly 28,000 km per hour in orbit.
According to ISRO, the SpaDeX mission is designed as a technology demonstrator that will help develop capabilities required for future complex space operations.
Docking technology is expected to play an important role in several upcoming Indian space missions. These include the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme and the planned Bharatiya Antariksh Station, India’s proposed space station.
The technology will also support future missions involving satellite servicing, refuelling, in-orbit assembly and deep-space exploration.
The successful second docking and circumnavigation manoeuvre shows that Indian spacecraft can not only rendezvous and connect in orbit but also perform complex proximity operations multiple times.
With the SpaDeX mission, ISRO has taken a major step toward mastering technologies required for sustained human presence and advanced space infrastructure.
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