Sriharikota: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on November 2, launched the Indian Navy’s GSAT 7R(CMS-03) communication satellite. The indigenously developed satellite is India’s heaviest communication satellite to date, weighing around 4,400 kg. The launch took place from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 5:26 PM. The sateelite is placed at the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit(GTO).
The satellite would enhance the Navy’s space-based communications and maritime domain awareness capabilities with indigenous, state-of-the-art components developed specifically to meet the Indian Navy’s operational requirements. “This satellite is India’s heaviest communication satellite to date, weighing approximately more than 4,400 kg and includes many indigenous state-of-the-art components developed specifically to meet the Indian Navy’s operational requirements”, the Indian Navy affirmed.
CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite that will provide services over a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass, according to ISRO. The satellite was launched by the famous LVM3 launch vehicle, which successfully landed India on the lunar South Pole in the Chandrayaan-3 mission. This will be the vehicle’s fifth operational flight. “CMS-03, weighing about 4400kg, will be the heaviest communication satellite to be launched to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from the Indian soil. The previous mission of LVM3 launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission, in which India became the first country to land successfully near the lunar south pole,” ISRO said in a statement.
Congratulations India, @isro has successfully launched the heaviest GEO communication satellite from Indian soil. The Indian space sector is soaring high to provide valuable services to the user community in and around the Indian region.
– Dr. V. Narayanan
Secretary,…— ISRO (@isro) November 2, 2025
The launch vehicle had been assembled earlier and had been on the launch pad since October 26 for pre-launch operations. The LVM3-M5 launch had eight sequences, with the CMS-03 being separated from the vehicle at an altitude of approximately 179 kilometres at a velocity of around 10 km per second. The launch vehicle had a height of 43.5 meters, with a total liftoff mass of 642 tonnes. The vehicle uses three stages of propellants to enable the satellite to reach the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Union Minister hails the LVM3 launch vehicle as ‘Bahubali’
Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on November 2, lauded the successful launch of the Indian Navy’s GSAT 7R (CMS-03) by the LVM3 launch vehicle, terming it as “Bahubali.” Sharing a post on the X social media platform, the Union Minister hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a string of successful space missions.
“India’s Bahubali scales the skies with the successful launch of LVM3M5 Mission. “Bahubali”, as it is being popularly referred, the LVM3-M5 rocket is carrying the CMS-03 communication satellite, the heaviest ever to be launched from Indian soil into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). ISRO continues to script one success after another. Thanks, PM Modi, for the unflinching government support,” Jitendra Singh wrote.
Kudos Team #ISRO!
India’s #Bahubali scales the skies, with the successful launch of #LVM3M5 Mission!
“Bahubali” as it is being popularly referred, LVM3-M5 rocket is carrying the CMS-03 communication satellite, the heaviest ever to be launched from the Indian soil into a… pic.twitter.com/ccyIPUxpIX
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) November 2, 2025
Advisor for the Gujarat Council on Science and Technology, Narottam Sahoo, said that the launch will boost the confidence ahead of India’s Gaganyaan Mission. Sahoo said, “As we keep building new rockets, our confidence reaches new heights. Just as the preparations for Gaganyaan are in the final stages, the successful launch of this rocket will further boost our confidence”.
(With Inputs from ANI)
