The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is ready to create history yet again and add another feather to its cap with the launch of CMS-03, India’s heaviest military communication satellite. Marking a major milestone in maritime defence communication, the 43.5-metre-tall launch vehicle, fondly called ‘Bahubali,’ will lift off today, carrying the powerful CMS-03 into space.
The launch is set for 5:26 pm at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This event is important as it involves India's heaviest communication satellite so far, representing a further step in the nation's efforts to develop independent, advanced space infrastructure. ISRO has reported all systems ‘go.’ The rocket is fully integrated, positioned on the launch pad, and the countdown has officially begun.
Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025
Time: 5:26 PM IST (17:26 IST)
Launch Site: Second Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota
Orbit Target: Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), from where CMS-03 will move to its final geostationary position
ISRO will stream the CMS-03 launch live on its official website and social media channels. Viewers can tune in to watch the liftoff in real time here. For streaming links and the official launch brochure, visit ISRO’s ‘LVM3-M5/CMS-03 Mission’ page.
Weighing 4,410 kg, CMS-03 is the heaviest communication satellite ever launched from Indian soil into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). Designed for multi-band communication, it will enhance naval, air, and maritime networks, providing seamless connectivity across vast oceanic regions beyond India’s shores.
The mission uses LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) M5, affectionately nicknamed ‘Bahubali’, also called GSLV Mk III, which has a clean record, including Chandrayaan‑3’s lunar south pole landing in 2023. It features two S200 solid boosters, a liquid-fueled L110 core powered by Vikas engines, and a cryogenic C25 upper stage, enabling payloads up to 4,000 kg to GTO and 8,000 kg to LEO.
