Sriharikota, October 30: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up to launch its most powerful communication satellite, CMS-03, aboard the LVM3 rocket on November 2. The launch marks the fifth operational mission of the LVM3 and adds another milestone to India’s CMS satellite series.
According to ISRO, the CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite weighing 4,400 kg — the heaviest ever built and launched from Indian soil. It will be placed in a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) to provide enhanced communication coverage over the Indian subcontinent and surrounding oceanic regions.
The LVM3, popularly known as the “Bahubali” of Indian rockets, was earlier responsible for propelling Chandrayaan-3, India’s successful lunar mission. The fully assembled rocket was shifted to the launch pad on October 26 for final testing and pre-flight procedures. Chandrayaan-3 had placed India among the world’s elite by achieving the first successful soft landing near the Moon’s south pole.
With the CMS-03 mission, ISRO aims to significantly strengthen India’s communication infrastructure, particularly across remote areas and oceanic expanses. The satellite’s launch also demonstrates the LVM3 rocket’s capability to handle heavier payloads, reinforcing India’s position as a growing space power.
ISRO’s future roadmap remains equally ambitious. Chairman V. Narayanan has confirmed that work is progressing on Chandrayaan-4 and Chandrayaan-5, while India’s first space station module is expected to be operational in orbit by 2035. Chandrayaan-4 will serve as a Venus Orbiter Mission, marking India’s next step in interplanetary exploration.
Additionally, India’s much-awaited Gaganyaan mission continues to take shape. Following Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla’s successful participation in NASA’s Axiom-4 mission, ISRO is preparing to send three Indian astronauts into a 400 km orbit for three days before a safe splashdown in the Indian Ocean — a defining leap toward manned spaceflight.
