ISRO launches CMS-03 aboard LVM3-M5 from Sriharikota at 5:26 PM; 4,410 kg comms satellite set for GTO to boost multi-band services across the Indian region.
ISRO Heaviest Communication Satellite Designed for Multi-Band Coverage
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday launched its heavy-lift LVM3-M5 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, carrying CMS-03, billed as the heaviest multi-band communication satellite to be placed into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil. The liftoff was scheduled for 5:26 PM IST after pre-launch checks and a 24-hour countdown.
CMS-03 — weighing about 4,410 kg — rode the 43.5-metre LVM3 (also referred to as GSLV MkIII), nicknamed “Bahubali” for its heavy-lift capability. The mission marked the fifth operational flight of LVM3, with ISRO outlining an eight-sequence flight profile culminating in CMS-03 separation at roughly 179 km altitude at speeds near 10 km/s. ISRO described all systems as “GO” ahead of the launch.
Officials say CMS-03 is designed to provide multi-band communication services across a wide oceanic region as well as the Indian landmass — a capability that can support civilian telecom and commercial data links. Analysts noted that successful deployment of such a heavy satellite on an Indian launcher could reduce reliance on foreign launch services for similar payloads in future missions.
