Weekly - ISRO launches long-awaited Space Docking experiment and more
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ISRO launches long-awaited Space Docking experiment
Last week, ISRO successfully sent its long-awaited SpaDeX experiment into orbit. The SpaDeX experiment has two spacecraft, a Chaser and a Target. The Chaser is responsible for tracking and following the Target while in orbit and docking (connecting) the 2 spacecraft in space. Only Russia, the USA and China have achieved in-space docking before, and India will have to master it before building its own space station or sending Indians to the moon. The docking is expected to happen on 7th January.
POEM-4 in action: ISRO's first robotic arm and more!
The 4th stage of the PSLV rocket that launched SpaDeX served two purposes. After putting the experiment in orbit, the 4th stage was converted into an orbiting laboratory called POEM-4. Onboard this lab ISRO recently operated its first-ever robotic arm in space and also announced that the cowpea seeds onboard POEM-4 had germinated marking the first time life has sprouted on an ISRO craft.
NASA unveils its ‘Mars Chopper’: successor to Ingenuity
NASA recently unveiled its plans for a new Martian drone that can fly over Mars’ terrain and reach places rovers can’t. They are calling it the ‘Mars Chopper’, a drone with 6 propellers and 5kg carrying capacity; a significant upgrade from the previous Ingenuity chopper that was damaged during a flight last year. Ingenuity was to be just a technology demonstrator with a life of 30 days but ended up doing extremely well on Mars and running for more than 3 years.
