India has successfully launched two small satellites as part of its first-ever space docking experiment, a crucial step in the nation's quest to join the ranks of global space powers. This mission is a key move towards building India's own space station and conducting manned lunar missions in the future.

The initial attempt at docking the two satellites could occur by January 7, 2024, according to S. Somanath, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who made the announcement following Monday’s successful launch.

In a statement issued on December 21, ISRO explained that this mission serves as a precursor to autonomous docking technology, which is vital for future lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4. This technology plays a vital role in advancing India’s space goals, such as returning samples from the Moon and constructing the Bharatiya Antariksh Station, India’s envisioned space station. If successful, India will join an elite group of countries--the United States, Russia, and China--who have mastered space docking technology.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set his sights on establishing India as a major space power. In 2023, India made history by landing near the lunar south pole, becoming the first country to do so. India plans to send astronauts into orbit by 2025 and is one of the few nations with probes studying the Sun. Modi's government has also opened up India’s space industry to foreign investments, fostering partnerships with space agencies worldwide.

ISRO has made significant strides in recent years, including launching satellites on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket for the first time in November 2023. Next year, a joint NASA-ISRO satellite will be launched from India to measure land and ice movement on Earth. Additionally, in December 2023, an Indian rocket successfully launched two European satellites, marking the first collaboration between ISRO and its European counterpart in two decades.

India’s space journey began in the 1970s with support from the Soviet Union. Currently, Russia is assisting India with spacesuit provision and other equipment for the Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space for the first time. Gaganyaan astronauts are also receiving training in Russia.

The Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 10:00 p.m. local time on Monday. The PSLV-C60 rocket successfully placed the two satellites into orbit, reaching an altitude of about 470 kilometers. ISRO declared the mission a success just 15 minutes after launch.

A notable feature of the SpaDeX mission is that the two satellites, SDX01 (chaser) and SDX02 (target), were built entirely by the Indian private sector, with guidance from ISRO engineers. Weighing 220 kg each, the satellites were designed, assembled, and tested by Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL) at its state-of-the-art facility in Bengaluru. This marked a significant milestone in India's space program, showcasing the growing capabilities of the Indian private space industry.

The SpaDeX mission demonstrates India’s growing expertise in on-orbit docking, a critical technology for future manned space missions, space exploration, and satellite servicing. Key objectives of the mission include autonomous rendezvous and docking, formation flying, and testing a remote robotic arm to control one spacecraft using the other. The docking attempt is scheduled for January 7, 2024, which, if successful, will make India the fourth country to master this complex technology.