SPADEX Satellites Re-entry into Earth’s Atmosphere on October 12, 2026
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/SPADEX Satellites Re-entry into Earth’s Atmosphere on October 12, 2026
October 23, 2026
ISRO achieved a historic milestone with the successful launch of the Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) onboard PSLV-C60 mission in 470 km circular orbit of 550 inclination on December 30, 2024. The mission demonstrated critical autonomous rendezvous and low-impact docking technologies using the two satellites, SPADEX-A and SPADEX-B.
Throughout the mission, both spacecraft successfully accomplished all core objectives including vertical and radial docking, composite control, power transfer, undocking, and payload operations. Further circumnavigation was also demonstrated successfully.
Post operational phase, the fuel was exhausted in both the satellites, their orbits decayed progressively, leading to their eventual atmospheric re-entry on October 12, 2026. Two moderate geomagnetic storms on 4th and 11th October 2026 accelerated the orbital decay.
Meticulous mission management and operations ensured that both the spacecraft remained healthy until the reception of final telemetry frames.
The impact point of SPADEX-A was over South Pacific Ocean around 16:48 UTC, on October 12, 2026. The final impact of SPADEX-B was over the North Atlantic Ocean around 23:36 UTC, on October 12, 2026 after re-entry to Earth’s atmosphere.