SPADEX


SPADEX or Space Docking Experiment is a twin spacecraft mission being developed by Indian Space Research Organisation to mature technologies related to orbital rendezvous, docking, formation flying and remote robotic arm operations, with scope of applications in human spaceflight, in-space satellite servicing and other proximity operations.
SPADEX campaign would consist of two IMS-2 class satellites, one would be Chaser and other being Target and both would be launched as co-passengers or auxiliary payloads. Both spacecrafts would be injected into slightly different orbits.
Space Docking Experiment is currently scheduled for launch in 2020 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre aboard a Polar Satellite launch Vehicle.

Objectives

With preliminary studies done in 2016, Space Docking Experiment was approved by Government of India with initial funding of ₹10 crore cleared in 2017. In June 2019, ISRO was looking for proposals to study remote robotic arm operation, rendezvous and docking related technologies on its PSLV fourth stage orbital platform.