Isro Achieves Satellite Docking Milestone

India Is Now Only the Fourth Country to Achieve the Feat

- Reuters

India became the world's fourth nation on Thursday to achieve the feat of space docking, a technological milestone that underscores its ambitions to expand its share of a rapidly growing $400 billion global space market.

Target and Chaser, two satellites of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) that are each roughly the size of a large refrigerator, successfully latched onto each other at about 9am (0330 GMT), an agency spokesperson said.

The indigenous technology, crucial for satellite servicing, space station operations, and interplanetary missions, positions India for a key role in commercial and exploratory space efforts.

"India has ambitious missions planned and to achieve those, this is an important technology," astrophysicist Jayant Murthy said.