Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, aboard the LVM3 rocket on November 2. This marks the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 launch vehicle and the addition of the fifth satellite in India’s CMS communication satellite series.
According to an ISRO statement, the CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite designed to provide services across a vast oceanic region, including the Indian subcontinent. The 4,400 kg satellite will be launched into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil, making it the most massive communication satellite ever deployed domestically.
The LVM3 vehicle, which previously powered the Chandrayaan-3 mission, was fully assembled and moved to the launch pad on October 26 for final checks and pre-launch operations. Chandrayaan-3 had made India the first country to achieve a successful landing near the lunar south pole, a milestone that cemented ISRO’s global reputation in space exploration.
ISRO’s LVM3 rocket, also known as the ‘Bahubali’ of launch vehicles, will now demonstrate its capacity for heavy payloads through this mission. The CMS-03 satellite aims to enhance India’s communication network, ensuring improved connectivity and coverage over remote and oceanic regions.
Meanwhile, ISRO continues to advance its ambitious space roadmap. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan had earlier confirmed ongoing work on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5 missions, with a completed space station module expected to be placed in orbit by 2035. Chandrayaan-4 will serve as a Venus Orbiter Mission, expanding India’s deep-space exploration portfolio.
Following Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful participation in NASA’s Axiom-4 mission, India is also preparing for the Gaganyaan project — its first human spaceflight mission. The mission will send a three-member crew to an orbit of 400 km for three days before a safe splashdown in Indian sea waters, marking a new era for India’s manned space exploration.
