Bengaluru, Jan 16, 2025 (V7N) - India marked a major milestone in its space exploration journey as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully docked two satellites in space on Thursday. This breakthrough propels India's ambitions of building a space station and executing a manned Moon mission.

The two satellites, each weighing 220 kilograms (485 pounds), were launched in December from the Sriharikota spaceport aboard a single rocket before separating in orbit. On Thursday, ISRO expertly maneuvered the satellites back together in a precise operation, achieving a "successful spacecraft capture," a moment ISRO hailed as "historic."

This accomplishment, known as the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), makes India the fourth country to achieve space docking, joining the ranks of Russia, the United States, and China.

ISRO emphasized that SpaDeX is critical for developing the technology required for spacecraft rendezvous, docking, and undocking—capabilities essential for future space station operations and lunar exploration.

India's space program has gained momentum over the past decade, achieving significant feats at a fraction of the cost compared to other global space powers. In August 2023, India became the fourth nation to successfully land an unmanned craft on the Moon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's bold vision of sending astronauts to the Moon by 2040 is now one step closer to reality with this latest success.

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