SPaDEx Chaser, SPaDEx Target, POEM-4 – PSLV-C60 CA – Шрихарикота FLP – 30.12.2024 16:30 UTC

[zandr]

https://x.com/s2a_systems/status/1913764298679009573

s2a systems  @s2a_systems
Getting closer again: SpaDeX A & B, recorded from Switzerland on 2025-04-20 at 01:00:50 UTC, with an inter-satellite distance of approximately 550 meters.

Вновь сблизились на полкилометра.
Будет ещё стыковка?

[zandr]

https://x.com/DrJitendraSingh/status/1914173905335464417

ISRO reposted
Dr Jitendra Singh  @DrJitendraSingh
#ISRO SPADEX Update:
Glad to inform that the second docking of satellites has been accomplished successfully.
_{As informed earlier, the PSLV-C60 / SPADEX mission was successfully launched on 30 December 2024. Thereafter the satellites were successfully docked for the first time on 16 January 2025 at 06:20 AM and successfully undocked on 13 March 2025 at 09:20 AM.}

Further experiments are planned in the next two weeks.

Вторая стыковка выполнена успешно.

[zandr]

https://x.com/planet4589/status/1914497530634686648

Jonathan McDowell  @planet4589
ISRO's SPADEX SDX01 and SDX02 spacecraft redocked at 1450 UTC Apr 20  after carrying out manuevers at a range of 0 to 20 km since undocking  from each other on Mar 13.

[zandr]

https://x.com/s2a_systems/status/1916620236775678346

s2a systems  @s2a_systems
SpaDeX Update: After successfully raising their orbit, the two satellites have once again undocked.
SpaDeX A & B, recorded on 2025-04-27 at 21:47:40 UTC over Europe.

Разошлись.

[triage]

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-satellites-practising-dogfights-in-space-what-it-means-8320645

India is conducting a rare and very sophisticated "dogfight" in space between a 'chaser' and 'target' satellite orbiting nearly 500 kilometers above the Earth. This comes close on the heels of Chinese defence satellites practising "dogfights" in low Earth orbits in 2024.

Dogfighting in space refers to the concept of coordinated, close-range maneuvers between spacecraft, similar to the aerial dogfights between fighter jets.

The Indian attempt is one more useful extension of the ambitious SPADEX Mission by the Indian Space Research Organization or ISRO. A mission with many societal and strategic objectives rolled in seamlessly.

Two Indian satellites - zipping through space at 28,800 kilometers per hour, or at a speed which is 28 times faster than cruising a commercial passenger jet and 10 times the speed of a bullet - are autonomously participating in this precision flight pattern orchestrated by the ISRO. Both satellites have been conducting rendezvous and proximity tactics.

This current "dogfight" was preceded by an extended but manually conducted circumambulation or parikrama between the chaser and target satellite a few weeks ago.

In the SPADEX mission, India has already "successfully demonstrated docking and undocking twice over", ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan told NDTV.

After these extended docking and undocking maneuvers, the ISRO chief said, there was still 50% of the fuel left on the two satellites.

A precision rocket launch and frugal orbital management has left the two satellites with nearly 2.5 kilograms of fuel each, said the ISRO chief, adding that this helps extend the mission life.

....

Earlier, the ISRO successfully demonstrated the docking of the SPADEX satellites (SDX 01 & SDX 02) for the second time on April 20.

Subsequently, power transfer from SDX 02 to SDX 01 satellite as well as vice versa was also exercised and accomplished on April 21.

The experiment involved operating a heater element in one of the satellites through power from the other satellite. The duration of power transfer was approximately 4 minutes and the performance of the satellites was as expected.

In the second docking attempt, the docking was completed with full autonomy from an inter-satellite distance of 15m till docking, whereas in the first docking attempt, an additional hold point was manually exercised at an inter-satellite distance of 3m.

The second docking experiment was preceded by detailed ground simulations and on-orbit trials incorporating the experience gained from first docking and undocking experiments, thereby providing immense confidence for the second docking demonstration.

The demonstration of the fully autonomous second docking along with power transfer marks the completion of an important milestone in the SPADEX mission.

The first docking was achieved on January 16 this year.
...