ISRO set to lunch heaviest communication satellite CMS-03

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set to launch its over 4,000 kg communication satellite, CMS-03, from the spaceport here on 2 Nov ,2025.

Key  Points :

• Weighing about 4,410 kg, CMS-03 will be the heaviest satellite ever launched from Indian soil into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• The satellite will be carried onboard the LVM3-M5 rocket, popularly dubbed ‘Bahubali’ for its heavy-lift capability.
• According to ISRO, the 5-metre-tall rocket has been fully assembled and integrated with the spacecraft and moved to the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre for pre-launch operations.
• ISRO described the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) as its new heavy-lift launch vehicle, designed to place 4,000 kg class spacecraft in GTO in a cost-effective manner.
• The three-stage rocket consists of two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110), and a cryogenic upper stage (C25) — a combination that gives India full self-reliance in launching heavy communication satellites.
• The rocket, also known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III, will make its fifth operational flight with this mission.
• Earlier, ISRO had launched its heaviest communication satellite, GSAT-11, on December 5, 2018, from Kourou launch base in French Guiana using the Ariane-5 VA-246 rocket. GSAT-11 weighed 5,854 kg, making it the heaviest satellite ever built by ISRO.
• The objective of Sunday’s mission is for CMS-03, a multi-band communication satellite, to provide communication services over a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass, ISRO said.
• The previous LVM3 mission was the highly successful Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, which made India the first country to successfully land near the Moon’s south pole in 2023.
• The LVM3 rocket can carry payloads of up to 4,000 kg to GTO and 8,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), powered by its advanced cryogenic stage.
• The S200 solid rocket boosters, mounted on the sides of the rocket, provide the initial thrust required for lift-off. These boosters were developed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram.
• The L110 liquid stage, powered by two Vikas engines, was designed and developed at ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
• ISRO said the LVM3-M5 mission will mark another milestone in India’s journey towards achieving complete autonomy in launching heavy communication satellites from its own soil.