SRI SAIDATTA @nssdatta🇮🇳ISRO’s Presentation on SpaDEx Includes Testing, integration of the spacecraft’s & also PSLV integration
SRI SAIDATTA @nssdatta🇮🇳 PSLV-C60 / SpaDEx Integration Video (full)
s2a systems @s2a_systemsLow 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.
PierSight @piersightspaceRelive Varuna's launch from our perspective—in under a minute 🔥(Pro tip: Wear earphones for the best experience!)This is a moment that will stay in our hearts for years to come. And now, it’s yours to cherish too.#PSLVC60 #ISRO #SpaDeX
SRI SAIDATTA @nssdattaPSLV-C60 lift off & onboard Views
SRO @isroSlow-motion liftoff and onboard views! 🚀✨SpaDeX’s historic mission onboard PSLV-C60 delivers breathtaking visuals, showcasing India’s strides in space exploration. 🌌🛰️📖 More info: https://isro.gov.in/mission_SpaDeX.html#SpaDeX #ISRO 🚀📍 @DrJitendraSingh
#Update #SpaceWe’ve all watched the #SpaDeX launch. Docking (nominally) is scheduled for Jan 7 after the two satellites perform a carefully choreographed orbital dance before attempting to dock with each other. In this thread, let’s see how Isro plans to do it. 1/nPic: Isro“Launch has given a small difference in velocity between sats. At 10m/s rate, this distance will grow and sats will grow apart by about 20km,” M Sankaran, director, URSC, said, explaining the intricate sequence of events that will unfold over the next week. 2/nOnce satellites reach this separation, Isro will begin controlling their relative positions. “We’ll start using the onboard propulsion systems on one of the two satellites to arrest the drift so that we maintain the 20km distance between the two satellites,” said Sankaran. 3/nAnd like twins, the satellites will be going around in the same orbit with the same speed. The mission timeline includes a four-day waiting period to achieve optimal solar orientation, crucial for generating sufficient power during the docking procedure. 4/n“At this point again, we will initiate the drift of the two satellites. So that the 20km distance is progressively reduced to 5km, 1.5km and so on… 5/n…And after we reach 5km, we’ll enable the inter-satellite RF link so that the satellites talk to each other and exchange their own position, attitude, etc, which’ll enable us to evaluate the software logics,” Sankaran said. 6/nSeveral new sensors developed by Isro’s LEOS in Bengaluru will be evaluated for their fitness for initiating the docking sequence, which will start once the inter-satellite distance is reduced to 1.5km, utilising three different guidance algorithms. 7/nThe docking mechanism involves a “hugging” action. “The final approach will be particularly delicate. With a constant velocity of about 10mm/s, the chaser satellite will go and enter into the target satellite… 8/n…The latches will be released and clamps on both sides will try to grab each of the satellites,” Sankaran added. 9/n...And once they hold each other together, the ring which has been extended on the chaser satellite will be retracted so that the target satellite will be pulled towards the chaser satellite and the two will become as a single unit. 10/nOnce docked, the satellites will demonstrate power transfer capabilities, with electricity flowing from one satellite to the other to power a heater, confirming successful connection. 11/nThe combined unit will then be controlled by a single satellite's control system, demonstrating technology crucial for future space station operations, including India’s planned Bharati Antriksh station. 12/nThe SpaDeX mission represents a long journey from concept to reality. “This work, as a thought experiment, started around 1989 and at the time, nobody thought that this was required for us, but the tenacity was there… 13/n…When the project was approved in 2016, we were able to realise it over several years,” Sankaran said. 14/nThe mission has required extensive preparation and testing. Isro developed several testbeds to validate the mechanism as well as the docking sequence, the sensors, etc. It has been a combined effort of so many people across Isro centres and the industry,” noted Sankaran. n/n
s2a systems @s2a_systemsToday’s SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over the Indian Ocean. Recorded from Australia on 2025-01-02 at 15:24:11 UTC.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsToday’s SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, while flying over Europe. Recorded on 2025-01-01 at 16:53:39 UTC.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsThis 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.
s2a systems @s2a_systems 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.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsThis morning's low elevation pass of SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over South America. Recorded on 2025-01-03 at 05:29:58 UTC.
ISRO InSight @ISROSightVideo Monitor Camera onboard #SpaDeX chaser captures an in-orbit space selfie video!🤳🏻#ISRO
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.Stay tuned for updates.
Demonstrating tethered debris capture in space using visual servoing, motion prediction, and a parallel end-effector for precise manipulation. 🚀 #SpaceTech #Robotics #ISRO
s2a systems @s2a_systemsThis 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.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsSpaDeX 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.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsSpaDeX A and SpaDeX B over South America. Recorded on 2025-01-06 at 03:58:42 UTC. Distance: about 4 km.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsA short gap in the clouds allowed a view of tonight's second pass over central Europe. SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B were about 1.8 km apart on 2025-01-05 at 18:05:07 UTC.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsWe are currently experiencing a lot of bad weather at our sites, but here we are again with SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B from South America. Recorded on 2025-01-05 at 04:28:42 UTC. The estimated distance between the two spacecraft is still about 2 km.
🛰️🛰️ Watch the SpaDeX Docking Event Programme.📅 Date: 9th January 2025⏰ Time: 8:00 AM onwards🌐 Watch live: youtube.com/live/UCs1UWAo2I0#ISRO #SpaDeX #SpaceTechnology
s2a systems @s2a_systemsThe two SpaDeX satellites, taken during the first visible pass over our South American site tonight from 01:16:23 - 01:16:53 UTC.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsThis 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.
2a systems @s2a_systemsSpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over Australia. Recorded today, 2025-01-07 at 12:49:08 UTC. The estimated distance between the two spacecraft remains at about 2 km.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsSecond visible SpaDeX pass over Australia. Recorded 2025-01-08 at 12:18:24 UTC. Estimated distance between the two spacecraft: about 400 m.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsWe must take into account that this very simple method greatly simplifies a three-dimensional system. The real distance is likely to be somewhat greater if the spatial depth is also taken into account. And at these short distances, this now has a noticeable impact. We will in reality probably be closer to 500 m distance if we also take this into account. If the weather permits, we will try to measure again at maximum elevation on the next pass to somewhat reduce this effect.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsAnd the last SpaDeX image from South America from this night. Recorded today, 2025-01-08 at dawn at 09:29:20 UTC. Estimated distance between the two spacecraft: about 600 m
