ISRO Year-End Review 2025: SpaDeX Docking, NISAR Launch and Gaganyaan Progress

Syllabus: Awareness in Space Technology

Department of Space

Why in news?

ISRO achieved historic milestones in 2025 including India's first space docking (SpaDeX), 100th launch from Sriharikota, NISAR joint mission with NASA, and progress on Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.

⚛️Static Concepts

Space Vision 2047Bharatiya Antariksh StationThree Launch Pads

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Prelims-Oriented Points

SpaDeX Mission: India's first successful space docking experiment on 16 January 2025
100th launch from Sriharikota: GSLV-F15/NVS-02 mission on 29 January 2025
NISAR: First joint ISRO-NASA satellite launched on 30 July 2025 using GSLV-F16
Gaganyaan: Revised budget of ₹20,193 crore; first crewed mission targeted for 2027-28
Cabinet approved Third Launch Pad at Sriharikota for Next Generation Launch Vehicles

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Examiner's Trap: SpaDeX demonstrated DOCKING technology, not just rendezvous. India is only the 4th country to achieve in-space docking after USA, Russia, and China.

Quick Data Points

SpaDeX Orbit: 474 km circular

Gaganyaan Budget: ₹20,193 Crore

NISAR Weight: 2392 kg

Crewed Mission Target: 2027-28

Mains Value Addition

GS-3: Space Technology, Indigenization, and Scientific Achievements

Strategic Autonomy: SpaDeX docking capability is essential for future Bharatiya Antariksh Station and Moon missions.
Indo-US Cooperation: NISAR represents decade-long collaboration for earth observation with dual-frequency SAR.
Human Spaceflight: Gaganyaan programme is India's gateway to becoming a spacefaring nation with indigenous crew module.

Source

Press Information Bureau (PIB)

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