The two satellites, each weighing 220kg, were launched last month on a single rocket from India's Sriharikota launch site. They later separated, AFP reported.

The two satellites were brought together in a "precise" process that led to "successful docking of the spacecraft," according to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). ISRO called it a "historic moment."

India becomes the fourth country to complete the mission, called SpaDeX or Space Docking Experiment, after Russia, the US and China. The goal of SpaDeX is to “develop the technology required to rendezvous, dock and detach two small spacecraft,” according to ISRO. Two previous docking attempts were postponed due to technical issues.

Docking technology is vital to future space endeavors, such as satellite services and when multiple rocket launches are needed to achieve mission goals, according to CNN.

Docking technology will be crucial if India is to succeed in its ambitions of landing an Indian citizen on the moon and building a space station, according to ISRO. The technology will allow India to transfer materials from one satellite or spacecraft to another, such as lunar samples and eventually humans in space.

India, the world's most populous country, has shown its space travel ambitions over the past decade with a significantly developed space program that rivals the major powers at a much lower price point, according to AFP. In August 2023, India became the fourth country to land an unmanned spacecraft on the moon.