The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, on Sunday evening, marking another milestone for India’s space programme.
The satellite, weighing around 4,410 kilograms, was placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) by the LVM3-M5 rocket, also known as ‘Bahubali’ for its powerful lift capacity.
CMS-03 is the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil into GTO. The LVM3, or Launch Vehicle Mark-3, is ISRO’s most advanced heavy-lift rocket designed to place satellites weighing up to 4,000 kilograms into orbit in a cost-effective manner.
The vehicle features a three-stage configuration with two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic upper stage (C25).
The lift-off took place as scheduled at 5:26 PM on Sunday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Ahead of the launch, the 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M5 rocket was fully integrated with the CMS-03 spacecraft and transferred to the second launch pad for final pre-launch preparations.
ISRO scientists refer to the LVM3 as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) MkIII. The LVM3-M5 marks the fifth operational flight of the launch vehicle, which continues to demonstrate exceptional reliability and precision.
Also Read : ISRO to launch CMS-03: India's heaviest comms satellite
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan lauded the mission’s success and congratulated the teams involved in the project. He emphasised the 100 per cent success rate of the LVM3 vehicle, highlighting it as a testament to India’s growing expertise in heavy-lift launch technology.
Addressing the media after the successful mission, Narayanan praised the collaborative efforts of ISRO engineers and scientists. He said the achievement further strengthens India’s capability to independently launch large communication satellites, reducing dependence on foreign launch vehicles.
The CMS-03 satellite will enhance multi-band communication capabilities and is expected to support telecommunications, broadcasting, and strategic applications across the country.
Sunday’s launch underscores ISRO’s steady progress in developing indigenous technologies for space exploration and satellite deployment, reaffirming its place among the world’s leading space agencies.
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