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With the occurrence of the SpaDex mission, ISRO has lined up a fistful of missions. (Express Archives/Partha Paul)
Mylswamy Annadurai
Jan 18, 2025 11:03 IST First published on: Jan 18, 2025 astatine 11:02 IST
Smartness, diligence and resilience, hallmarks of the Indian abstraction programme, person been erstwhile again demonstrated successful the aboriginal hours of January 16. Two tiny satellites, each weighing astir 220 kgs, were made to dock aft a fewer attempts stretching implicit a week. There were compelling constraints similar smaller and adjacent identical spacecraft, fixed a constricted budget. Having a smaller spacecraft led to usage of minimum propellant and hence determination was a request for a much optimal fig of imaginable docking attempts. The satellites were monitored and operated by ISRO’s existing crushed presumption web that limits the duration of interaction to the spacecraft. The archetypal fewer attempts of abstraction docking did not conscionable the desired result. There was a database of obstacles and constraints. Converting each specified constraints into challenges to beryllium overcome, ISRO arsenic a team, has shown its grit by successfully docking some spacecraft successful abstraction connected the 4th attempt. India is present the 4th state to execute this feat aft the US, Russia and China.
Looking ahead, aft the successful Space Docking Experiment (SpaDex), ISRO has lined up a fistful of missions. Chandrayaan-4, the 4th successful the satellite ngo series, is simply a illustration instrumentality mission. The ngo illustration envisages the lunar-bound lander of Chandrayaan-4 to emergence from the lunar aboveground on with the collected lunar samples to scope an orbit astir the moon. In the lunar orbit, the lander volition bash a rendezvous and dock with different lunar orbiter of Chandrayaan-4 that volition beryllium orbiting astir the moon earlier coming backmost to the world on with the lunar sample. The latest SpaDex ngo is fundamentally a precise cost-effective and innovative forerunner for the docking that is envisaged astir the satellite successful Chandrayaan-4 mission.
It is worthy noting that aft abstraction docking, it is verified that some the satellites’ attitude/orientation is being controlled arsenic a azygous entity. The electrical powerfulness transportation from 1 outer to different volition beryllium tested and demonstrated successful the docked configuration. This powerfulness transportation exertion is 1 of the imaginable scenarios to widen the beingness of orbit satellites successful the future. After a fewer orbits of testing, some satellites volition beryllium de-docked and separated. In the separated configuration again, some the satellites volition relation arsenic distant sensing satellites for the adjacent fewer years, arsenic some satellites transportation state-of-the-art distant sensing cameras. In addition, the radiation dose show successful 1 of the satellites volition beryllium utilized to measurement the radiation levels successful the 400-km orbit astir the earth. This information volition beryllium of large usage for our ain upcoming manned ngo Gaganyaan.
The caller past has seen a batch of crowding of progressive satellites successful world orbits. To safeguard the progressive satellites from the abstraction debris, controlled orbit maneuvers are being executed. The frequence of specified maneuvers is being accrued present adjacent for ISRO. There is simply a imaginable request of removing harmful debris from space. The contiguous abstraction rendezvous and docking/catching ngo volition beryllium useful successful specified scenarios.
Beyond each these subject and method outcomes and benefits, it is absorbing to enactment that some the satellites of the SPADEX ngo were assembled and integrated by a backstage entity connected their premises astatine the Bangalore aerospace park. This is the archetypal clip that ISRO’s satellites are assembled and integrated extracurricular ISRO, heralding the emergence of a caller ecosystem for the abstraction manufacture successful India.
The budget of SpaDex is astir Rs 225 crore, acold beneath what immoderate different abstraction bureau mightiness person spent. If 1 looks astatine the wealth spent against the database of accomplishments, it volition amusement however cost-effective innovations are being repeatedly brought retired by ISRO for its missions, starting from the archetypal spacecraft Aryabhatta to the latest SpaDex. Cost-effective innovation and frugal engineering has been the mantra of ISRO, and it is present poised to dispersed to Indian manufacture and the younger procreation infectiously, adjacent arsenic the abstraction programme is being opened up to backstage players.
While celebrating the occurrence of SpaDex, 1 can’t halt looking astatine the roadworthy up for the Indian abstraction programme. The expanding fig of startups successful the abstraction sector, bully advancement and visibility of tiny outer motorboat vehicles similar SSLV, Agnikul, Skyroot, the upcoming caller motorboat installation on with a abstraction parkland adjacent Kulasekarapattinam, unfastened a batch of innovative and commercially-competitive possibilities for the Indian abstraction industry. Considering the request to support and replenish the existing Indian world observation, communication, meteorological and navigation satellites, and caller nationalist and planetary requirements, 1 tin easy foresee a steadfast gathering constituent of proviso and request for abstraction infrastructure.
To conclude, the SpaDex ngo is simply a cost-effective ngo for the objection of in-space docking utilizing 2 tiny spacecraft launched by PSLV. This exertion is indispensable for India’s abstraction ambitions specified arsenic putting an Indian connected the Moon, bringing backmost lunar samples, the gathering and cognition of the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), etc. In-space docking exertion is indispensable erstwhile aggregate rocket launches are required to execute communal ngo objectives. Like large missions specified arsenic the Chandrayaans, Mangalyaan and Aditya-L1, the SpaDex ngo has inspired 1.4 cardinal Indians and besides boosted India’s representation successful the abstraction sector.
The writer is erstwhile director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore
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