Marking another milestone in India’s space journey, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday successfully launched its heaviest communication satellite **CMS-03** aboard the **LVM3-M5** heavy-lift rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
At precisely **5:26 pm**, the 43.5-metre-tall launch vehicle thundered into the evening sky, painting it orange with fiery exhaust trails as it lifted off from the second launch pad after a smooth 24-hour countdown. The mission represents a major leap in India’s satellite communication capabilities, carrying the **heaviest payload ever launched into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)** by an Indian-built rocket.
According to ISRO, the CMS-03 satellite separated successfully from the launch vehicle approximately **16–20 minutes after liftoff** at an altitude of around **180 km**.
Designed as a **multi-band communication satellite**, CMS-03 will provide advanced communication and data services across a vast oceanic expanse, including the entire Indian subcontinent. The satellite is equipped to enhance telecommunication, broadband connectivity, and digital communication networks for both civilian and strategic applications.
This achievement marks a significant step toward ISRO’s goal of self-reliance in launching heavier payloads. Until recently, the agency depended on the **Kourou launch base in French Guiana** for such missions. Notably, ISRO’s **GSAT-11**, launched in December 2018 from French Guiana, remains one of its heaviest satellites at **5,854 kg**.
The successful launch of CMS-03 underscores India’s growing technological prowess in the global space arena and strengthens its position as a competitive player in satellite communication and heavy-lift launch capabilities.
