ISRO gears up for record launch: Heaviest 4,410-kg CMS-03 satellite to lift off aboard ‘Bahubali’ rocket

India’s LVM3-M5 rocket to launch heaviest satellite yet from Indian soil at 5.26 pm on Sunday

India’s space agency ISRO is ready to script another milestone in its growing list of space achievements. On Sunday, November 2, it will launch CMS-03, the heaviest communication satellite ever to lift off from Indian soil, weighing 4,410 kilograms.

The spacecraft will be carried by LVM3-M5, ISRO’s most powerful launch vehicle, nicknamed ‘Bahubali’ for its ability to haul massive payloads. The liftoff is scheduled for 5:26 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The ‘Bahubali’ of Indian rockets

The 43.5-metre-tall LVM3, or Launch Vehicle Mark-3, has been designed to carry satellites weighing up to 4,000 kg to a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and 8,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

The rocket has now been fully integrated and shifted to the second launch pad for final pre-launch checks, ISRO said.

LVM3 is a three-stage rocket:

• Two S200 solid boosters provide the thrust required for liftoff,
• The L110 liquid core stage is powered by two Vikas engines,
• And the C25 cryogenic stage handles the heavy lifting in space.

Developed across multiple ISRO centres, including Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (Thiruvananthapuram) and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (Vellore), the LVM3 is also known as GSLV Mk-III, the same rocket that successfully carried Chandrayaan-3 to the Moon in 2023.

What CMS-03 will do

The CMS-03 satellite is a multi-band communication satellite that will serve both terrestrial and oceanic regions, enhancing India’s digital and broadcast infrastructure across remote geographies.

Its coverage will extend over the Indian landmass and adjoining ocean regions, supporting communication services, disaster management systems, and strategic communication networks.

This mission, ISRO said, underscores its commitment to building indigenous, high-capacity communication satellites that meet the country’s growing demand for data and connectivity.

Fifth operational flight for LVM3

Sunday’s mission will mark the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 series, following a string of successful launches, most notably Chandrayaan-3 in July 2023, which made India the first nation to land on the lunar South Pole.

The LVM3-M5 mission further cements ISRO’s confidence in the heavy-lift launcher, which has become the agency’s go-to vehicle for high-capacity missions and future deep-space exploration.

Building on past milestones

ISRO has launched heavier satellites before, but not from Indian soil.

In 2018, its heaviest communication satellite GSAT-11 (5,854 kg) was launched aboard a European Ariane-5 rocket from French Guiana.

The CMS-03 launch, therefore, marks a turning point, India now has the in-house muscle to deploy large satellites to geosynchronous orbits without relying on overseas launchers.

Countdown to liftoff

The excitement is building at Sriharikota. According to PTI, engineers have completed the final integration checks, and countdown operations are underway.

If all goes as planned, LVM3-M5 will lift off at 5:26 pm, pushing India another step closer to complete heavy-lift autonomy.