India’s space agency on Monday launched its first space docking mission on an Indian-made rocket, in a bid to become the fourth country to achieve the advanced technological feat.
The mission, seen as essential to future space efforts, including satellite servicing and operation of India’s planned space station, lifted off from India’s main spaceport at 11:30 p.m. ET Sunday (4:30 p.m. GMT) on aboard the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) PSLV “workhorse” rocket.
After about 15 minutes, the mission director called the launch mission a success, after the spacecraft reached an altitude of about 480 kilometers.
ISRO chief S. Somanath told a press conference that the docking test itself is expected to take place on January 7.
Space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
