ISRO's SpaDeX mission takes a crucial step forward despite delays, as the spacecraft begin a slow drift course to prepare for India's first space docking experiment.

The maneuver to bring the satellites to a distance of 500 metres from each other is likely to be achieved on Saturday, the agency said in a statement.

India's space agency ISRO postponed a highly anticipated space docking mission for the second time late Wednesday. The agency cited an issue arising from excess drift between the satellites, without disclosing a new date for the docking.

He said the task was a huge one as the strength of the space community in the public sector was not increasing substantially.

ISRO's space docking experiment has so far missed two publicly announced schedules, on January 7 and January 9.

ISRO is planning to carry out its ambitious space docking experiment using two satellites in orbit. If the ISRO succeeds in its mission, India will become the