November 3, 2025

ISRO’s mighty LVM3-M5 rocket, nicknamed Bahubali, blasted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at exactly 5.26 pm, carrying the Indian Navy’s powerful communication satellite CMS-03. The scene was electric as the rocket roared skyward, cutting through the clouds and drawing wild cheers from hundreds of school kids gathered to watch the spectacle! CMS-03 isn’t just any satellite—it’s a multi-band communication heavyweight, tipping the scales at about 4,400 kg! This makes it the heaviest and most advanced communication satellite ever launched from Indian soil into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It will cover a huge oceanic region including the Indian mainland and is set to turbocharge the Navy’s ability to communicate and monitor maritime activities from space. The rocket’s C25 cryogenic stage pulled off a rare feat — it reoriented and reignited its engines in orbit to place the satellite exactly where planned. This precision made the launch a perfect textbook mission! Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his excitement, saying, “Congratulations ISRO on the successful launch of India’s heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03. 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.” Speaking after the launch, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan proudly shared that this marked the 103rd launch from Sriharikota and the eighth win for the LVM3 family. The legendary LVM3-M4 had earlier made headlines by launching Chandrayaan, India’s historic mission to the Moon’s South Pole. Narayanan revealed a cool upgrade: the LVM3-M5 increased payload capacity by 10% to heftily carry CMS-03 into its perfect orbit. Every system on the rocket performed flawlessly, making this a soaring success. Indian Navy officials revealed how CMS-03, built with many indigenous parts, will supercharge naval communication. It can carry voice, data, and video signals in multiple bands, connecting ships, aircraft, submarines, and naval centers seamlessly and securely. This will massively boost real-time coordination and maritime domain awareness. In today’s world of rising sea security challenges, this satellite brings cutting-edge technology straight from India’s labs to the ocean’s edge, supporting the Navy’s mission to guard India’s maritime interests. It’s a brilliant display of 'Aatmanirbharta'—self-reliance—in defence and space technology, officials said. The CMS-03 launch is not just a technical success; it’s a proud leap for India’s space and defense ambitions. With every thunderous lift-off, ISRO’s rockets tell the story of a nation soaring ever higher.

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Tags: Isro, Cms-03, Lvm3-M5, Indian navy, Communication satellite, Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit,