The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced a second delay in its Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, citing unexpected drift between the two spacecraft.  

The mission, which aims to demonstrate India's orbital docking capabilities, was initially scheduled for January 6th but was postponed due to the need for further ground simulations.

On Wednesday, ISRO revealed that while SpacecraftA successfully reduced the distance from 500 meters to 225 meters, the satellites drifted further apart than anticipated during a period of non-visibility.

The SpaDeX mission, launched on December 30th aboard a PSLV-C60 rocket, involves two small spacecraft designed to rendezvous, dock, and subsequently undocking in low-Earth orbit.  

ISRO has not yet provided a revised timeline for the docking attempt.

This mission is a crucial step in India's space exploration program, paving the way for future missions that require complex maneuvers such as docking and refueling in space. (ILKHA)