India is on the verge of a major space milestone as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) prepares to launch its heaviest satellite from Indian soil. The 4,410 kg multi-band communication satellite CMS-03 will be carried into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket, marking another significant achievement for the nation’s space program.
Nicknamed “Bahubali” for its powerful lift capacity, the 43.5-meter-tall LVM3-M5 has been fully integrated with the satellite and rolled out to the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
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ISRO confirmed that final checks are complete and the official countdown for the mission has begun. The launch is scheduled for 5:26 p.m. on November 2. Also known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III, LVM3 is ISRO’s heavy-lift rocket designed to cost-effectively deploy satellites of up to 4,000 kg into GTO.
The three-stage vehicle features two solid strap-on boosters (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and an indigenously developed cryogenic upper stage (C25). Since its first developmental flight, the Crew Module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) in 2014, the LVM3 has established a strong record of success.
The upcoming flight will be the fifth operational mission of the LVM3 series. Its cryogenic stage allows payload delivery of up to 4,000 kg to GTO and 8,000 kg to low Earth orbit. A human-rated variant, the HRLV, is also under development for ISRO’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.
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While CMS-03 will be the heaviest satellite launched from Indian soil, ISRO’s overall heaviest communications satellite remains GSAT-11, weighing 5,854 kg, which was launched aboard an Ariane-5 rocket from French Guiana in 2018. The CMS-03 mission aims to enhance multi-band communication coverage across India and surrounding oceanic regions.