India’s space agency on Monday launched its first space landing mission on an Indian-made rocket in a bid to become the fourth country to achieve the advanced technological feat.
The mission, considered critical to future space endeavors including satellite servicing and the operation of India’s planned space station, lifted off from India’s main spaceport at 11:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. GMT) on Sunday aboard the Indian Space Research Organization ( ISRO) rocket “workhorse” PSLV.
After about 15 minutes, the mission director called the launch mission successful, after the spacecraft had reached an altitude of about 300 miles.
ISRO chief S. Somanath told a press conference that the docking test itself is expected on January 7.
Space docking technology is critical when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives.
