Indian rocket lifts off for country’s first space docking mission

An Indian-made rocket took off from a location north of Chennai, carrying two small spacecraft that will test the docking maneuver.

Space docking is crucial for manned trips to the Moon or to support a space station.

Indian Space Research Organization chief Sreedhara Somanath said he was happy to announce “the successful completion” of the rocket, adding that the mission “placed the satellites in the correct orbit.”

Delhi hopes to become the fourth country with such technology, after Russia, the United States and China.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously announced plans to send a person to the Moon by 2040.