An Indian-made rocket blasted off from a site north of Chennai carrying two satellites that will test docking in space.

Docking is critical for manned trips to the moon or supporting the space station.

Declaring the launch a “success,” ISRO chief Sridhara Somanath said the rocket had “placed the satellite into the correct orbit.”

The two spacecraft began the testing process on Tuesday, with final docking expected around January 7.

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

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has previously announced plans to put a man on the moon by 2040.