Sriharikota: India’s space agency is gearing up for another milestone as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) prepares to launch the country’s heaviest communication satellite yet — CMS-03 — on Sunday evening. The satellite, weighing around 4,410 kilograms, will be lifted into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) by the LVM3-M5, India’s most powerful rocket.
The countdown for the mission began on Saturday at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The 43.5-meter-tall LVM3, popularly known as “Bahubali” for its sheer lifting capability, is ISRO’s heavy-lift launch vehicle designed to deploy large payloads into orbit.
This launch marks the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 series. The vehicle, officially named the Launch Vehicle Mark-3, is also referred to as GSLV Mk3 by ISRO scientists. It features a three-stage configuration — twin solid rocket boosters (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and an advanced cryogenic upper stage (C25). Together, these systems enable the launcher to carry payloads of up to 4,000 kg into GTO and 8,000 kg into low Earth orbit.
According to ISRO, the CMS-03 satellite will enhance India’s multi-band communication network, extending its coverage across the Indian subcontinent and vast oceanic regions. While some reports have hinted at potential strategic applications, the space agency has not confirmed any defence-related objectives.
ISRO stated that the launch vehicle and satellite have completed integration and have been shifted to the designated launch pad for final preparations. The lift-off is scheduled for 5:26 p.m. on Sunday.
CMS-03’s successful deployment will represent another step forward in India’s self-reliance in space technology. Until recently, India’s heaviest communication satellite, GSAT-11 — weighing about 5,854 kg — had been launched from French Guiana in 2018 using an Ariane-5 rocket. The CMS-03 mission, however, underscores India’s growing ability to launch large payloads independently from domestic soil.
The LVM3 rocket has already proven its reliability, most notably during the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which successfully placed a lander on the Moon’s south pole in 2023 — a first in world history.
With the CMS-03 mission, ISRO continues to strengthen India’s space communication infrastructure while demonstrating its capability to handle heavier payloads without foreign assistance — a significant stride toward greater autonomy in space exploration and technology.
