The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch its communication satellite, CMS-03, which weighs over 4,000 kg, from the Sriharikota spaceport on Sunday. At approximately 4,410 kg, CMS-03 will be the heaviest satellite ever sent into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian territory. The satellite will be launched aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket, known as ‘Bahubali’ for its heavy-lift abilities. ISRO has reported that the 43.5-meter-tall rocket has been completely assembled, integrated with the spacecraft, and transported to the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre for final pre-launch preparations. The LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) is ISRO’s new heavy-lift vehicle, engineered to efficiently place 4,000 kg class spacecraft into GTO.
This three-stage rocket features two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25), enabling India to independently launch heavy communication satellites. This mission marks the fifth operational flight of the rocket, also referred to as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III. Previously, ISRO launched its heaviest communication satellite, GSAT-11, weighing 5,854 kg, on December 5, 2018, from the Kourou launch base using the Ariane-5 VA-246 rocket. The aim of Sunday’s mission is for CMS-03, a multi-band communication satellite, to facilitate communication services across a broad oceanic area, including the Indian landmass.
The last LVM3 mission was the successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, which made India the first nation to land near the Moon’s south pole in 2023.
