India launched its first space docking mission on Monday, on an Indian-made rocket, in an attempt to become the fourth country to achieve the advanced technological feat. The mission, called Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX), lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh state at 1630 GMT aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) "workhorse" PSLV rocket. The mission is seen as pivotal for future space endeavours, including satellite servicing and the operation of the country's planned space station. In-space docking technology is crucial when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve shared mission objectives. The fourth stage of the PSLV, which usually turns into space debris, has been converted into an active un-crewed space laboratory.

Source: bd News24 December 30, 2024 18:18 UTC