India Launches Heaviest Comsat CMS‑03 on LVM3‑M5 Rocket

In a landmark achievement for Indian space ambitions, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 2 November 2025 launched the communications satellite CMS‑03, the heaviest such satellite to be launched from Indian soil, aboard the heavy‑lift rocket LVM3‑M5 (also referred to as GSLV‑Mk3). The launch took place from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) Sriharikota, marking the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 vehicle. This launch underscores India’s increasing self‑reliance in placing heavy satellites into the geo‑synchronous transfer orbit (GTO).

What Is CMS-03?

CMS-03 is a multiband communication satellite designed to boost India’s capabilities in secure, high-capacity communications across civilian and strategic sectors. It will enable,

• Faster internet and data services
• Enhanced broadcast coverage
• Communication support in remote regions

Mission Details

• The rocket had a lift‑off mass of 642 tonnes and a height of 43.5 metres.
• The satellite CMS‑03 weighed 4,410 kg and was successfully placed into GTO about 16 minutes after liftoff.

Flight sequence highlights,

• S200 solid boosters ignited at liftoff and separated at ~131.14 s at altitude ~62.3 km.
• L110 liquid stage ignited at ~106.94 s and separated at ~304.70 s at altitude ~166.9 km.
• C25 cryogenic upper stage ignited at ~307.10 s and burned until ~950.94 s, achieving an inertial velocity of ~10.14 km/s.
• Satellite separation at ~965.94 s at altitude ~179.8 km.
• The target orbit was a GTO with apogee around 29,970 km and perigee ~170 km – slightly lower than standard GTO to accommodate the heavy satellite weight.