NEW DELHI, Nov 2: India on Sunday achieved a major milestone in its space program with the successful launch of its heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, aboard the indigenous LVM3-M5 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

Weighing about 4,410 kilograms, CMS-03 is the heaviest satellite to be placed into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said the multi-band communication satellite would provide services across a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass, for at least 15 years.

ISRO Chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space, V. Narayanan, described the launch as “yet another shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India),” highlighting that CMS-03 incorporates a host of new technologies. “Even under difficult weather conditions, our scientists accomplished this mission successfully and grandly,” he said, congratulating the team behind the mission.

Narayanan announced a key experiment carried out during the launch — the successful ignition of the thrust chamber after orbital injection and stage reorientation. “This will feed valuable data for restarting the cryogenic stage in future missions, enabling flexibility to deploy multiple satellites in different orbits using the ‘Bahubali’ rocket LVM3,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated ISRO scientists on the achievement, saying, “Our space sector continues to make us proud. Powered by our space scientists, it is commendable how our space sector has become synonymous with excellence and innovation. Their successes have furthered national progress and empowered countless lives.”

ISRO confirmed that the LVM3-M5, also known as the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) MkIII, successfully injected the CMS-03 satellite into the desired orbit. Narayanan referred to the rocket as “Bahubali,” acknowledging its heavy-lift capability, and recalled its previous success with the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission, which made India the first country to land near the Moon’s South Pole in 2023.

All eight LVM3 launches, including experimental and operational missions, have achieved a 100 percent success rate, demonstrating the reliability of India’s most powerful launcher. The LVM3-M5’s success marks the fifth operational flight of the vehicle, fully developed with indigenous technology, including its C25 cryogenic stage.

Before achieving this self-reliance, India relied on France-based Arianespace’s Ariane-5 rockets launched from French Guiana to deploy heavier communication satellites. The 2018 launch of GSAT-11 aboard Ariane-5 weighed 5,854 kg. With the LVM3-M5, India now possesses the capability to launch satellites weighing up to 4,000 kg in GTO and 8,000 kg in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) independently.

ISRO explained that the LVM3 rocket features two S200 solid strap-on boosters, a liquid core stage (L110) powered by Vikas engines, and an advanced cryogenic upper stage (C25), all developed in India. The S200 boosters were produced at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, while the L110 stage was designed at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.

The LVM3 is also designated as the Human-Rated Launch Vehicle (HRLV) for India’s upcoming Gaganyaan Mission, which will carry Indian astronauts into space.

ISRO noted that its launcher family — including the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), GSLV, and LVM3 — has enabled India to provide commercial satellite launch services since 1999. The PSLV remains the agency’s most trusted workhorse for small and medium payloads, while the LVM3 has elevated India into the league of nations capable of launching heavy communication satellites from their own soil.