On the grounds of an IDSS-like docking system. ATV used the Russian KURS probe system, and the ETS-VII was not docking, but berthing with an arm and Capture Claws and towel bars, similar to Hubble.
Docking time seems to be 19:19 UTC on Jan. 15Source: https://x.com/isro/status/1880277647391137947
#update #space #exclusive@isro is preparing for additional docking attempts with its recently (Jan 16) linked satellites, focusing on achieving greater precision in its automated docking capabilities. (details in thread). 1/nPics: Collage of Isro Released ImagesM Sankaran, director, URSC, which spearheaded #SpaDeX said Isro is conducting detailed assessments of the docking accuracy before proceeding with the next phase of experiments. 2/n“We have to gain more information about how accurately we have achieved this docking and how much more accuracy we can achieve,” Sankaran said, emphasising that the actual act of docking is just one aspect of the mission. 3/n“How accurately we are docking is important. We will make an assessment of how accurately we have docked and how much we can improve,” he said. 4/nAs part of the first experiment, the two 220-kg satellites had achieved a peak inter-satellite distance of 12.8km before Isro initiated a series of manoeuvres that eventually culminated in the Jan 16 docking. (Mission was launched Dec 30, Docking happened Jan 16). 5/nIsro employed a petal-based docking system, aligned with international standards including the International Docking System Standard (IDSS). 6/nOn whether the fuel remaining on the satellites were sufficient to carry out more docking attempts, Sankaran said that for the upcoming trials, Isro plans to separate the satellites by shorter distances, potentially not exceeding 100 metres, unlike the initial approach. 7/n"Fuel consumption won’t be a constraint for these experiments, as the focus will be on perfecting the final approach and docking mechanism rather than long-range maneuvers,” Sankaran said. 8/nSuccess of these ops relies on a sophisticated array of 5 different types of sensors, each activated at specific ranges. These sensors, which were evaluated at each step in the run-up to Jan 16 docking, are crucial to both the rendezvous and the eventual docking. 9/nThe Proximity and Docking Sensor (PDS) becomes operational from 20 meters, while other sensors work at varying distances – some at long range, others at 200 meters, and some specifically for close proximity operations. 10/nThe final phase of docking involves specialised mechanism entry sensors that detect when one satellite’s petals enter the other satellite's mechanism. 11/n“...After it enters, we have to trigger mechanisms to grab the satellite. Once it is entered, it should get trapped there. It should not go out,” Sankaran explained. 12/nCurrently, Isro’s team is analysing data from the Jan 16 docking & running simulations to prep for the next attempt. While the exact timeline for sat separation remains under review, Sankaran indicated it would take “a few days” as they carefully evaluate their options. 13/nThe decision to activate the satellites’ payloads between docking attempts remains flexible. “If we can do what we want to do immediately, we will do those things and then turn on the payload later… 14/n…If that is going to take time, then we will turn on the payload and go ahead with the other observations. When we are ready, we will do the docking experiment again,” he added. 15/nAs I’ve reported, the Jan 16 docking achieved by Isro was the 1st step towards mastering the tech, which will have to be done multiple times in different configurations, before Isro could confidently use it for future missions like #Chandrayaan4 & the space station. n/n
s2a systems @s2a_systemsSpaDeX A & B during two passes over Europe, today 2025-01-21 at 04:53:10 UTC and 06:29:40 UTC. So far we do not see any undocking @r_isro
s2a systems @s2a_systemsChallenging observation conditions for the SpaDeX satellites at the moment. Captured here today 2025-01-22 at 03:49:31 UTC over South America at an elevation of 5.3 degrees, ~10 seconds before entering the earth's shadow.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsSpaDeX A & B during the pass over Australia, today 2025-01-25 at 13:14:44 UTC.
s2a systems @s2a_systemsSpaDeX A & B during today’s pass over South America, 2025-01-27, 02:49:37 UTC. Nothing new as far as it looks.
Moderator:Please post the telescopic views of satellites in the corresponding and correct threads.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2025 08:33 pmModerator:Please post the telescopic views of satellites in the corresponding and correct threads.Let make such a thread!
s2a systems @s2a_systemsSpaDeX A & B during today’s pass over South America, 2025-02-02, 01:19:06 UTC.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2025 08:33 pmModerator:Please post the telescopic views of satellites in the corresponding and correct threads.The threads exist, it's just a matter of distributing the tweets in their correct locations and not batch-posting everything here...
Quote from: eeergo on 02/03/2025 09:47 amQuote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2025 08:33 pmModerator:Please post the telescopic views of satellites in the corresponding and correct threads.The threads exist, it's just a matter of distributing the tweets in their correct locations and not batch-posting everything here...Where? Thanks
Quote from: SMS on 02/09/2025 05:37 amWhere? ThanksEach orbital launch, and therefore, payload, has its own launch thread within this forum.Post the telescopic views of satellites in the corresponding and correct launch threads.Thank you.
Where? Thanks
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/10/2025 02:13 amQuote from: SMS on 02/09/2025 05:37 amWhere? ThanksEach orbital launch, and therefore, payload, has its own launch thread within this forum.Post the telescopic views of satellites in the corresponding and correct launch threads.Thank you.@zubenelgenubi:Give the exact link for this launch to me. Thank you!
Each time I see blue characters, and hence a new message in this thread, I am earnestly hoping it is to report good news on undocking of the Spadex satellites. Alas... -:)
"Currently, the unified satellite is in an elliptical orbit. So, we get a 10-15 days window once in two months to conduct various experiments," ISRO Chairman V Narayanan told PTI on the sidelines of the National Science Day celebrations here."Right now, we are doing simulation experiments for separation of satellites and re-docking them. We have charted out a plan and will start the actual experiments from March 15," Narayanan said.Ahead of the mission's launch, the ISRO had said after successful docking and rigidization, it planned to demonstrate electrical power transfer between the two satellites before undocking and separation."We want to do multiple experiments. There is a lot of propellant onboard. We also have experiments lined up for the third slot that would be available after two months," Narayanan said.
