An Indian-made rocket has blasted off from a site north of Chennai, carrying two small spacecraft which will test the docking manoeuvre.
Space docking is crucial for manned travel to the Moon or supporting a space station.
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s chief Sreedhara Somanath said he is happy to announce “the successful accomplishment” of the rocket and added that the mission “placed the satellites in the right orbit”.
Delhi hopes to become only the fourth country with such technology, after Russia, the United States and China.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously announced plans to send a person to the Moon by 2040.
