In November 2025, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched India’s heaviest military communication satellite named ‘CMS-03’ or also known as GSAT-7R, which weighs 4,410 kilogram (kg), aboard its indigenously made ‘Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3-M5)’ rocket, also dubbed as ‘Bahubali’ from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC)in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh (AP).
- LVM3-M5 rocket, previously known as Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk-III), has successfully deployed the country’s heaviest communication satellite into the designated Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Exam Hints:
- What? Successful launch of India’s heaviest communication satellite
- Launched by: ISRO
- Launched from: SDSC (Sriharikota, AP)
- Satellite Name: CMS-03 or GSAT-7R
- Weight: 4,410 kg
- Aboard on: LVM3-M5 (formerly known GSLV Mk-III)
- Placed into: GTO
- Designed for: Indian Navy
- Coverage: Entire Indian Ocean Region
Significance of Mission:
5th Operational Flight: This mission marked the 5th operational flight of LVM3 launcher, previously used for ‘Chandrayaan-3 mission’, where India became the world’s 1st country to land successfully near the lunar South Pole.
Launch of 1st heavy satellite from India: For the 1st time, a heavy satellite (over 4,000 kg) was launched from India and that also through a home-made launch vehicle.
- Earlier, ISRO had launched GSAT-11 (5,854 kg) and GSAT-24 (4,181 kg) by French company Ariane space; and GSAT-20 (4,700 kg) was launched using Elon Musk’s space vehicle (SpaceX).
About CMS-03 or GSAT-7R:
Purpose: CMS-03, a multi-band communication satellite, will enhance communication services across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) for the Indian Navy (IN).
- It features various indigenous state-of-the-art components developed specifically to meet the IN’s operational requirements.
Replace GSAT-7: GSAT-7 will replace GSAT-7 (Rukmini), which was launched in 2013 on Ariance-5 rocket.
- Earlier, ISRO had launched GSAT-7A, previous version of GSAT series, designed specifically for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Payloads: The satellite carried advanced payloads in multiple frequency band widths such as UHF, S-band, C-band and Ku-band. It is also equipped with indigenous technologies like: 1,200 litre (l) propulsion tank and collapsible antenna systems.
Time Period: This newly launched communication satellite is designed to provide services for at least 15 years.
About LVM3 Rocket:
Most Powerful Rocket: This is the most powerful rocket of ISRO and latest version of LVM3 series, which is designed to carry up to 8,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and 4,000 kg to Geosynchronous Orbit (GO).
Key Specifications: LVM3-M5 has a height of 43.5 metre (m) and diameter of 4.0 m, with lift off mass of 640 tonnes and heat shield diameter (payload fairing) of 5.0 m.
3-Stage Launch Vehicle: It is a 3-stage launch vehicle with solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and cryogenic stage (C25). This gives full self-reliance (Aatmanirbharta) in launching heavier communication satellites into GTO.
Upgraded LVM3: ISRO has upgraded the launch vehicle to increase its payload capability by 10% compared to previous LVM3-M4 used for Chandrayaan-3 mission.
- Apart from its payload capability, ISRO has also upgraded the vehicle’s cryogenic upper stage from C25 (carrying 28,000 kg fuel and generating 20 tonnes thrust) to C32 stage (carrying 32,000 kg of fuel and producing 22-tonne thrust).
About Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO):
Chairman- Dr. V. Narayanan
Headquarters– Bengaluru, Karnataka
Established– 1969
