ISRO Launches Its Heaviest CMS-03 Communication Satellite

A giant leap for India's space program, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported on Sunday night that the LVM3-M5 rocket had launched the CMS-03 satellite, the heaviest of all communication satellites, into Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO).

The heavy-lift rocket of great power was ignited by its fiery orange exhaust and took off from the second launch pad at Sriharikota, which is located at a distance of around 135 km from Chennai, precisely at 5:26 pm.

The 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M5 was carrying the CMS-03, a multi-band satellite for communication purposes that was meant to extend connectivity not only to the Indian subcontinent but also to the ocean regions surrounding it.

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After a smooth countdown that spanned 24 hours, the rocket started its journey, and within about 16 to 20 minutes, it was expected to release the satellite at an altitude of almost 180 km, as per the projections made by the Indian Space Research Organisation.

This mission not only indicates the beginning of a new era for ISRO but also the fact that CMS-03 has now become the heaviest satellite that was ever launched from Indian territory aboard a rocket. Until now, ISRO was holding on to Kourou's spaceport in French Guiana for heavy satellite launches just like the GSAT-11 mission which took place in 2018 with 5,854 kg payload and was the heaviest among such missions.

By the successful launch of CMS-03, ISRO once again proves that it has the competence to handle complex high-weight missions in a real-time manner which is a significant boost for India in the global space communication sector. Furthermore, the accomplishment indicates a strong move towards greater self-sufficiency in satellite deployment and sophisticated space technology.