Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: U.P. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday, January 16,  praised the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) team for their remarkable achievement in the successful docking of two satellites under the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) project.

Expressing his pride, Adityanath highlighted that India has now joined an elite group of four nations to accomplish such a groundbreaking feat - Heartfelt congratulations to the entire ISRO team on this historic success! India has become the fourth nation to achieve space docking, signifying a significant leap in our space capabilities. The SpaDeX docking process was executed with unmatched precision. This milestone showcases the dedication and brilliance of the minds behind this mission. A moment of immense pride for India! Jai Hind!" the Chief Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also commended ISRO's achievement, calling it a historic milestone in India’s space journey. He emphasized that the success of the SpaDeX project is a key stepping stone for upcoming missions.

Former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai also said that this success will play a crucial role in enabling future missions such as Chandrayaan-4. Annadurai also noted that the docking technology would be instrumental in the establishment of India's space station and help in the removal of space debris.

In addition, V Narayanan, Secretary of the Department of Space (DOS) and Chairman of ISRO, extended his congratulations to the team, applauding their precision and expertise. ISRO later confirmed that post-docking, the two satellites were successfully controlled as a single entity.

On Thursday morning, ISRO officially announced the conclusion of the much-awaited satellite docking, with India becoming the fourth nation to achieve this remarkable milestone. "India is now the 4th country to successfully accomplish space docking. Congratulations to the entire team!, ISRO statement through "X" reads. 

Launched on December 30, 2024, the mission involved the PSLV C60 rocket, which carried two small satellites namely, SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02 (Target--alongside 24 other payloads. Approximately 15 minutes after liftoff from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the satellites, weighing around 220 kilograms each, were successfully placed into a 475-kilometer circular orbit.

The SpaDeX docking process involved maneuvering from a distance of 15 meters to a precise hold point of 3 meters, culminating in a flawless spacecraft capture.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh lauded the breakthrough, stating that it paves the way for ambitious projects like the Bharatiya Antriksha Station and Chandrayaan-4.