NOTAM issued for PSLV-C60/SpaDEx (Space Docking Experiment).
Enforcement duration 1600-2000 (UTC), 30 December 2024 to 13 January 2025.
https://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.)
POEM-4 might also host something interesting, a robotic arm!
(Contd.) These three are not in gallery but accessible via URL. EXIF data not purged.
https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/index/SPADEX/image17.jpg
https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/index/SPADEX/image18.jpg
https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/index/SPADEX/image19.jpg
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
Apparently for first time all four stages were stacked in PIF.
https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/districts/chittoor-news/2/124229473
(Contd.)
PSLV-C60/SpaDeX Mission Press-kit
https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/Missions/PSLVC60/PSLVC60-mission-brochure-english.pdf
(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.) PSLV-C60 integration video.
https://www.isro.gov.in/mission_spadex_integration_video.html
(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.) After ages they have posted a slow-mo lift-off video.
https://www.isro.gov.in/mission_spadex_liftoffvideo.html
Onboard video
(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."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lelf7yo7bc22
(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."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lemnnjzytk2z
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.
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lep3y4ls7k27
(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."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lerhhtg33c2f
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."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3leswbfg3yc2e
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."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3leug3p7v222c
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
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3levlvbjptc2l
"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.)
SPADEX Docking event programme (7 January 09:00 IST)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCs1UWAo2I0
#PSLVC60 #SpaDeX #ISRO
(Contd.)
The estimated distance between the two #SpaDeX spacecrafts is still about 2 km.
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lext22olhk2t
(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
#PSLVC60 POEM4
(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."
(Contd.) s2a system on bsky
"SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over the Indian Ocean. Recorded from Australia on 2025-01-06 at 14:57:47 UTC. The estimated distance between the two satellites is about 2.9 km."
(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky
"This morning's SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B over South America. Recorded on 2025-01-07 at 03:25:20 UTC. Estimated distance between the two spacecraft: about 2.1 km."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lf4qrxyyhk2e
(Contd.)
#SpaDeX Live Broadcast: 9 January, 08:00 (IST) / 02:30 (UTC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCs1UWAo2I0
(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky
"This morning's SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B over South America. Recorded on 2025-01-08 at 02:53:10 UTC. Estimated distance between the two spacecraft: about 1 km."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lf7n62j6us2w
Edit:
Now 600 meters!
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lf7x3hhbvs2o
(Contd.)
s2a systems on bsky
"Second visible SpaDeX pass over Australia. Recorded 2025-01-08 at 12:18:24 UTC. Estimated distance between the two spacecraft: about 400 m."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lfaaagvmvc26
(Contd.)
ISRO on X
"SpaDeX Docking update: Initiated the drift on the SpacecraftA to move closer from 500m to 225m."
(Contd.)
s2a systems on bsky
"SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B over Tasmania, our first check after the postponement of the docking maneuver. Taken on 2025-01-08 at 18:52:58 UTC. Estimated distance between the two spacecraft near max elevation: about 5 km."
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lfavun7kuc2h
@Ohsin Do you know the location of Digantara's South American site?
@BugWarp No but it is strange that they and s2a both imaged SpaDeX sats almost at same time (03:58 UTC)!
https://bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.bsky.social/post/3lf2brxg6yk2c
Digging around this tweets of theirs suggest their site is in Chile (Atacama) Note the masked coords of location!
https://x.com/anirudhnsharma/status/1870393880149188760/photo/1
@Ohsin Yeah, I've noticed that. And s2a answered me on Twitter saying it's on Chile, so they probably share the site.
@BugWarp FWIW Digantara did say their system currently uses data "from select agencies and commercial companies"