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NOTAM issued for PSLV-C60/SpaDEx (Space Docking Experiment).

Enforcement duration 1600-2000 (UTC), 30 December 2024 to 13 January 2025.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPADEX

Fourth stage (PS4) will be configured as POEM-4 orbital platform to host few payloads from Indian space-startups.

(Contd.) These three are not in gallery but accessible via URL. EXIF data not purged.

isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/i

isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/i

isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/i

ISRO began purging EXIF data as we used to use that to figure out launch campaign process and any oddities in it.

(Contd.) POEM-4 payload details are now available. There are 24 payloads in total including two robotic arms 🦾🦾

isro.gov.in/POEM_4_Payloads_sp

Apparently for first time all four stages were stacked in PIF.

eenadu.net/telugu-news/distric

(Contd.)

PSLV-C60/SpaDeX : Payload fairing encapsulation completed.

(Contd.)

If PSLV-C60/SpaDeX launches as scheduled from FLP, it will be the shortest period between two consecutive orbital launches for ISRO from same pad at 25.25 days after PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 launch on 5 December.

Previous shortest gap was 31.02 days between GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 and GSLV MkIII-D1/GSAT-19 from SLP.

(Contd.)

11 ground stations are supporting PSLV-C60 flight as a rehearsal of Gaganyaan flight.

(Contd.)

Three objects cataloged

62459 ( 24253A )
i=54.99°, A×P=476.32×469.14 km

62460 ( 24253B )
i=54.99°, A×P=476.40×469.26 km

62461 ( 24253C )
i=55.05°, A×P=475.43×356.84 km

Last one should be POEM-4, cataloged before achieving 350 km circular orbit perhaps.

(Contd.)
s2a systems on bsky
"Low elevation pass of the ISRO Space Docking Experiment SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B. Recorded today, 2024-12-31, between 05:27:10 and 05:27:20 UTC from the South American site."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky

"Once again ISRO’s SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, this time at better elevation while flying over Europe. Recorded today, 2024-12-31, between 17:24:44 and 17:25:22 UTC shortly before they enter the Earth's shadow."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

On X they noted that the distance between satellites is about 5.7 km

(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky
"Today’s SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, while flying over Europe. Recorded on 2025-01-01 at 16:53:39 UTC."

Satellites are now ~12 km apart.

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky

"Today’s SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over the Indian Ocean. Recorded from Australia on 2025-01-02 at 15:24:11 UTC."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

By scale they appear to be ~8 km apart.

(Contd.)
s2a systems: "This morning's low elevation pass of SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over South America. Recorded on 2025-01-03 at 05:29:58 UTC."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

Just about 5 km apart now.

(Contd.) Relocatable Robotic Manipulator-Technology Demonstrator (RRM-TD) in action onboard POEM-4.

Source: ISRO on X

(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky

"SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, recorded this evening, 2025-01-03 at 17:27:31 UTC over Europe. The estimated distance is a bit over 2 km."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

ISRO on X

"Life sprouts in space! 🌱 VSSC's CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) experiment onboard PSLV-C60 POEM-4 successfully sprouted cowpea seeds in 4 days. Leaves expected soon."

s2a systems on Bsky

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

"This morning's low elevation pass of SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over South America. Recorded 2025-01-04 at 04:59:29 UTC. The estimated distance between the two spacecraft was about 1.9 km."

(Contd.) ISRO on X:

"Video Captured by Video Monitor Camera onboard SPADEX on 2nd Jan 2025 10:27 hrs IST"

"Selfie video of the chaser is recorded during chaser approaching totarget at the Inter-satellite distance (ISD) of 4.8 km on 2nd Jan 2025 10:27 hrs IST.
Further VM will provide real time visualization of docking event during capturing process of twin spacecrafts."

(Contd.)

‪s2a systems‬ on bsky: SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B over South America. Recorded on 2025-01-06 at 03:58:42 UTC. Distance: about 4 km.

And Chethan Dash of ToI just informed on X that docking event has been postponed to 9 January.

(Contd.) Now confirmed officially by ISRO on X.

"The SpaDeX Docking scheduled on 7th is now postponed to 9th.
The docking process requires further validation through ground simulations based on an abort scenario identified today."

(Contd.) Update on CROPS over POEM-4

"Leaves have emerged! 🌱 VSSC's CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) aboard PSLV-C60 POEM-4 achieves a milestone as cowpea sprouts unveil their first leaves in space."

via ISRO on X

POEM4

(Contd.)

SDX02 (Spacecraft B) launch restraint release & docking ring extension.

via on X

(Contd) Digantara on X

"Earlier this morning, from our South American site, we captured a low-elevation pass of SpaDeX-A (SDX01) and SpaDeX-B (SDX02) at 09:30 AM IST. These two spacecraft, currently separated by an estimated 4.5 km, are setting the stage for the groundbreaking docking of the
ISRO SpaDeX Mission."