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Indian Space Research OrganizationPSLV-CASatish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment)

Launched

December 30, 2024 · 16:30 UTC

Launch Successful

Summary

SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) launched on an Indian Space Research Organization PSLV-CA from Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India on December 30, 2024 at 16:30 UTC. It was Indian Space Research Organization's 93rd launch, 5th this year and humanity's 6,848th orbital launch attempt. It was the 18th PSLV-CA flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for low Earth orbit (LEO). SPADEX-A, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 476 × 483 km orbit inclined 55.0°. 3 objects from this launch are catalogued, all of them payloads.

Watch
Vehicle
PSLV-CA · Indian Space Research Organization
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Technology · Low Earth Orbit (LEO)for ISRO
Milestone
18th PSLV-CA flight · 1st this yearIndian Space Research Organization's 93rd launch5th this yearhumanity's 6,848th orbital launch attempt259th orbital launch attempt this year

Webcast

Replay
Watch on YouTube

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

55.0°Inclination
476 × 483 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
94.1 minPeriodfrom mean elements
257.4°Ascending node
654 d agoElement epoch2024-12-30 17:52 UTC · stale

SPADEX-A · NORAD 62459 · 2024-253 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 3 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED
Object ID
2024-253A
Epoch
2024-12-30 17:52:14 UTC
Mean motion
15.31033233 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.0005238
Inclination
54.9937°
Ascending node
257.38°
Arg. of perigee
279.5296°
Mean anomaly
179.5447°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
0
B*
0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: LEO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Flight timeline

15 steps, T−0 to T+1 h 21 min
  1. T−0Liftoff
  2. T+1M51.12SStage 2 Separation
  3. T+1M51.32SSES
  4. T+3M8.32SFairing Separation
  5. T+4M22.06SStage 3 Separation
  6. T+4M23.26SStage 3 Ignition
  7. T+8M31.22SKick Stage Separation
  8. T+8M41.62SKick Stage Ignition
  9. T+13M12.48SKick Stage Cut-off
  10. T+15M9.48SPayload Separation
  11. T+15M12.48SPayload Separation
  12. T+32M37.52SKick Stage Ignition
  13. T+33M8.42SKick Stage Cut-off
  14. T+1H21M8.52SKick Stage Ignition
  15. T+1H21M15.54SKick Stage Cut-off

Catalogued objects

3 catalogued: 3 payloads

  • SPADEX-A · NORAD 62459 · re-entered October 12, 2026
  • SPADEX-B · NORAD 62460 · docked January 16, 2025
  • POEM-4 · NORAD 62461 · re-entered April 4, 2025

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) is an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) technology mission to demonstrate autonomous docking between 2 spacecraft in orbit. The mission will involve two spacecraft (Chaser and Target) rendezvous and docking together, plus testing attitude control of the combined spacecraft under docked conditions. The Chaser and Target spacecraft will then be separated for operating other payload. The mission is critical to develop rendezvous and docking abilities for ISRO’s future human spaceflight and lunar sample return missions.

Official page: SpaDeX MissionOfficial page: www.isro.gov.in

Pad

Map of Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad

Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

61st launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad, 4th this year · 97th from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

Local pad time at liftoff: Dec 30, 10:00 PM GMT+5:30, at night

64 launches from this pad · 105 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

25 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, IndiaOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success.

Cosmic_Penguin · Dec 31, 2024 · source

Show 9 earlier updates

  • Both payloads deployed.

    hitura-nobad · 12/30/2024 · source

  • Liftoff!

    hitura-nobad · 12/30/2024 · source

  • Official Webcast by ISRO Official has started

    LL2 · 12/30/2024 · source

  • New T-0.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/30/2024 · source

  • GO for launch.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/23/2024 · source

  • Updated launch vehicle variant.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/21/2024 · source

  • NET December 30 per new NOTAMs.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/13/2024 · source

  • NET December 26.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 12/6/2024 · source

  • Targeting December 20. (1:30:57 mark)

    Cosmic_Penguin · 11/9/2024 · source

Questions

When did SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) launch?

SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) launched on December 30, 2024 at 16:30 UTC.

Where can I watch SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment)?

Coverage: PSLV-C60/SPADEX Mission. Watch the replay

What rocket launched SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment)?

PSLV-CA, flown by Indian Space Research Organization. PSLV-CA spec sheet

Where did SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) launch from?

Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India. Liftoff was Dec 30, 10:00 PM GMT+5:30 local time at the pad.

What orbit did SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) reach?

SPADEX-A, one of 3 catalogued objects, reached a 476 × 483 km orbit inclined 55.0°.

How many satellites did SPADEX (Space Docking Experiment) launch?

3 payloads from this launch are catalogued (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).