Isro is set to launch the advanced CMS-03 communication satellite aboard the LVM-3 rocket, strengthening India’s space-based communications and maritime security capabilities.
The satellite will lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on November 2, 2025.
This mission, marking the fifth operational flight of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM-3), will see India’s heaviest communication satellite to date, tipping the scales at 4,400 kilograms, placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
WHAT IS CMS-03 SATELLITE?
The CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite developed by Isro, designed to provide robust telecommunication coverage across India and an expansive oceanic region surrounding the subcontinent.
Its payload includes transponders capable of supporting voice, data, and video links over C, extended C, and Ku communication bands.
This advanced platform will significantly enhance connectivity, provide sharper and higher-capacity bandwidth, and improve digital access to remote territories, facilitating both civil services and strategic applications, such as communications for the Indian Navy.
The satellite, also referenced as GSAT-7R in some reports, will augment India’s maritime defense by enabling secure communication links between naval ships, aircraft, and submarines.
This is a vital upgrade, allowing the Indian military more reliable voice, data, and video transfer capabilities across strategically important regions.
LVM-3 LAUNCH SIGNIFICANCE
This mission highlights the LVM-3’s growing stature as India’s workhorse heavy-lift launcher, having recently propelled the Chandrayaan-3 mission to a historic lunar landing near the Moon’s south pole in July 2023.
The integration of CMS-03 atop the LVM-3 marks a key milestone in Isro’s ability to launch ever-larger and more advanced payloads, thereby enhancing India’s space infrastructure and global standing.
With this planned launch, Isro
continues to push the boundaries of indigenous technology, with pre-launch operations now underway and the rocket fully assembled and on the launch pad as of October 26.
The forthcoming liftoff is expected to further cement India’s leadership in satellite communications and strengthen its ambitions in deep-space and human spaceflight missions.
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