Two satellites, designated as the “chaser” and the “target,” are orbiting roughly 500 kilometers above Earth, engaged in a sophisticated and rare “dogfight” maneuver conducted by India in space. Shortly after, in 2024, Chinese defense satellites also engaged in similar “dogfights” in low Earth orbit.

Much like aerial dogfights between fighter jets, space dogfighting involves coordinated, close-proximity maneuvers between spacecraft. India’s ambitious SPADEX mission, led by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), marks another significant step forward for the nation’s strategic and societal aspirations.

According to ISRO’s chief, after the extensive docking and undocking exercises, both satellites retained approximately 50% of their fuel. Thanks to an accurate rocket launch and efficient orbital management, each satellite preserved over 2.5 kilograms of fuel, thereby extending their operational lifespan.

Brigadier (Retd) Anshuman Narang, Director and Founder of the independent think tank Atma Nirbhar Soch, praised the achievement, stating, “ISRO is pushing the technological frontier with this space dogfight.” He also highlighted that the mission, powered by cutting-edge indigenous technology, showcases India’s peaceful advancements in robotic space operations—an essential move toward greater modernization and self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

The experiment included a demonstration where one satellite powered a heater element on the other, transferring power for about four minutes, with the satellites performing as anticipated.

Unlike the first docking attempt, which involved manual intervention at a hold point 3 meters apart, the second docking was fully autonomous, initiated from a distance of 15 meters and completed without manual input.

The second demonstration was executed with high confidence, bolstered by comprehensive ground simulations and in-orbit tests that incorporated lessons learned from the initial docking efforts.

The SPADEX mission achieved a major milestone with the successful demonstration of fully autonomous docking and power transfer. The first docking had previously been completed on January 16 this year.

By successfully docking two indigenous satellites in orbit at an altitude of 475 kilometers, ISRO has joined an elite group of nations—after China, Russia, and the United States—to master space docking technology.

The SPADEX mission was launched aboard a PSLV rocket on December 30 of last year, paving the way for future projects such as Chandrayaan-4 and the Bhartiya Antariksha Station, both of which will benefit greatly from docking capabilities.