ISRO has rescheduled the launch of its Space Docking Experiment by two minutes, with the liftoff now set for 10 pm on Monday instead of the originally planned 9.58 pm, the space agency confirmed.
The mission is a significant step for India’s space programme, marking the country's attempt to establish its orbital docking capabilities, a technology crucial for future human spaceflight and satellite servicing missions.
The experiment will be conducted aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, which will also carry two spacecraft, SpaDeX, and 24 secondary payloads.
"Launch Day is here. Tonight at precisely 10 pm, PSLV-C60 with SpaDeX and innovative payloads are set for liftoff," ISRO stated in a release. The space agency did not specify the reason behind the rescheduling, but the countdown commenced as scheduled at 9 pm on Sunday.
India will join an exclusive group of nations—China, Russia, and the United States—that have demonstrated the ability to conduct in-space docking, a vital technology for long-term space exploration missions.
The mission's objective is to prove India’s readiness for future space ambitions, including human missions to the Moon, satellite servicing, and even the construction of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, India’s own space station.
During the mission, two spacecraft—Spacecraft A (SDX01) and Spacecraft B (SDX02)—will be placed in an orbit 5 km apart, and over the following 10-14 days, scientists will attempt to bring them within 3 metres of each other before merging them at an altitude of approximately 470 km above Earth.
“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,” ISRO explained.
Additionally, the PSLV-C60 mission will carry the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-4 (POEM-4), which will place 24 payloads into the desired orbits within a 90-minute period.
This mission marks ISRO’s final launch for 2024, and PSLV-C60 is the first vehicle to be integrated up to the fourth stage at the newly established PSLV Integration Facility.
Watch the liftoff live here-
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