In order to give spacecrafts a long life in space, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to develop a technology that will allow two space vehicles to attach in orbit and also transfer material between them. For this they have been granted Rs 10 Crore by the Department of Space. The technology will also allow ISRO to transfer humans in space.

However, the main aim of the technology will be at the refuelling of spacecraft to give them a longer life while it is orbit.

According to the reports published in the Times of India, a snior scientist, T K Anuradha confirmed that the palnning for this technology was under way at the ISRO Space Application Centre (ISAC), Bengaluru, in 2016.

‘ISRO has already completed some ground testings,’ he further added.

As per the documents in TOI’s possession, ISRO is also building a special bus and payload module that will allow replacement of equipment on satellites in space.

Another senior scientist said, “eventually ISRO is planning to launch two small spacecraft to test the technology in space. India operates a huge constellation of satellites and this technology will allow ISRO to enhance their lives by refuelling them. It’ll also reduce space debris.”

‘In most cases, the payloads on our satellites are still functioning when the satellite is decommissioned because it has expended its fuel. In future, we could enhance the life of satellites multiple times, the scientist further added.

At present, India is not a member of the International Space Station.

The human space programme is not in ISROs priority list, but the eventual aim of the docking system is to send and bring back people from space.

Comenting on the transportation of humans into space, the former ISRO chairman U R Rao, the chairman of Isro advisory committee, said, “the technology could be used to transport people to space stations or even send people in to replace equipment on spacecraft.”

‘Isro has to overcome many challenges before it can attempt the transfer of people in space,’ Rao added.