In a thunderous liftoff that lit up the Sriharikota skies, India’s most powerful rocket, the LVM3-M5—fondly nicknamed ‘ Bahubali’—blazed into orbit on Sunday carrying the nation’s heaviest-ever indigenously built communication satellite, CMS-03.
The flawless ascent marked another defining moment in India’s march toward self-reliance in space technology.
At precisely 5:26PM IST, the 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M5 thundered off the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, its twin S200 solid boosters firing with 5,000 kN of thrust.
Within minutes, the heavy-lift vehicle pierced through thick clouds, setting course to place the 4,410-kg CMS-03 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
With this, the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO) has once again demonstrated its ability to launch large communication satellites directly from Indian soil—without depending on foreign launch services.
The successful flight of the LVM3-M5 is the rocket’s fifth operational mission and another milestone in ISRO’s growing list of precision launches.
Also read: ISRO flexes its cosmic muscles as Bahubali launches heaviest comsat— a look at India’s glorious chapters among the stars
What makes ‘Bahubali’ special
The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), known earlier as the GSLV Mk-III, is India’s most powerful operational rocket. With a lift-off mass of 642 tonnes, it can carry payloads of up to 4 tonnes to GTO and 8 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The vehicle’s nickname, ‘Bahubali’, comes from its sheer strength—much like the legendary warrior from Indian mythology. Its three-stage design includes:
Two S200 solid boosters providing the initial liftoff thrust, L110 liquid core stage powered by twin Vikas engines, and C25 cryogenic upper stage, giving the final push to GTO.
The same launch vehicle family was used in Chandrayaan-3’s 2023 mission, which made India the first country to soft-land on the Moon’s south pole.
CMS-03: Strengthening India’s digital backbone
CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite that will bolster telecommunication, internet, and broadcasting services across India and adjoining oceanic regions.
Built entirely in India, the satellite is designed to provide robust connectivity for remote education, telemedicine, disaster management, and maritime communication.
The LVM3-M5’s journey to orbit followed a meticulously planned sequence. Within 16 minutes of launch, the rocket’s cryogenic stage cut off at an altitude of around 175 km, achieving a velocity of over 10 km/s. Moments later, CMS-03 separated successfully from the upper stage—prompting cheers from mission control.
The success of CMS-03 cements India’s position among a select group of nations capable of independently launching heavy communication satellites. It reduces reliance on foreign launchers such as Europe’s Ariane-5, which previously carried Indian payloads like GSAT-11 from French Guiana in 2018.
Also read: ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ LVM3-M5 rocket successfully launches 4,410 kg CMS-03 satellite into orbit: Here’s what it will do and why it matters
Beyond cost savings, the achievement signals India’s confidence in its own space hardware ecosystem and readiness to compete in global commercial launches. It also strengthens domestic communication networks critical to India’s Digital India and space economy ambitions.
With another powerful liftoff behind it, ISRO’s “Bahubali” has reaffirmed its status as the backbone of India’s heavy-lift missions. As CMS-03 begins its journey to its final orbital slot, the successful flight marks not just a technological triumph—but a symbolic leap for India’s growing space independence.
The flawless ascent marked another defining moment in India’s march toward self-reliance in space technology.
At precisely 5:26PM IST, the 43.5-metre-tall LVM3-M5 thundered off the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, its twin S200 solid boosters firing with 5,000 kN of thrust.
Within minutes, the heavy-lift vehicle pierced through thick clouds, setting course to place the 4,410-kg CMS-03 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Kudos Team #ISRO!
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) November 2, 2025
India’s #Bahubali scales the skies, with the successful launch of #LVM3M5 Mission!
“Bahubali” as it is being popularly referred, LVM3-M5 rocket is carrying the CMS-03 communication satellite, the heaviest ever to be launched from the Indian soil into a… pic.twitter.com/ccyIPUxpIX
With this, the Indian Space Research Organisation ( ISRO) has once again demonstrated its ability to launch large communication satellites directly from Indian soil—without depending on foreign launch services.
The successful flight of the LVM3-M5 is the rocket’s fifth operational mission and another milestone in ISRO’s growing list of precision launches.
Also read: ISRO flexes its cosmic muscles as Bahubali launches heaviest comsat— a look at India’s glorious chapters among the stars
What makes ‘Bahubali’ special
The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3), known earlier as the GSLV Mk-III, is India’s most powerful operational rocket. With a lift-off mass of 642 tonnes, it can carry payloads of up to 4 tonnes to GTO and 8 tonnes to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
The vehicle’s nickname, ‘Bahubali’, comes from its sheer strength—much like the legendary warrior from Indian mythology. Its three-stage design includes:
Two S200 solid boosters providing the initial liftoff thrust, L110 liquid core stage powered by twin Vikas engines, and C25 cryogenic upper stage, giving the final push to GTO.
The same launch vehicle family was used in Chandrayaan-3’s 2023 mission, which made India the first country to soft-land on the Moon’s south pole.
CMS-03: Strengthening India’s digital backbone
CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite that will bolster telecommunication, internet, and broadcasting services across India and adjoining oceanic regions.
Built entirely in India, the satellite is designed to provide robust connectivity for remote education, telemedicine, disaster management, and maritime communication.
The LVM3-M5’s journey to orbit followed a meticulously planned sequence. Within 16 minutes of launch, the rocket’s cryogenic stage cut off at an altitude of around 175 km, achieving a velocity of over 10 km/s. Moments later, CMS-03 separated successfully from the upper stage—prompting cheers from mission control.
The success of CMS-03 cements India’s position among a select group of nations capable of independently launching heavy communication satellites. It reduces reliance on foreign launchers such as Europe’s Ariane-5, which previously carried Indian payloads like GSAT-11 from French Guiana in 2018.
Also read: ISRO’s ‘Bahubali’ LVM3-M5 rocket successfully launches 4,410 kg CMS-03 satellite into orbit: Here’s what it will do and why it matters
Beyond cost savings, the achievement signals India’s confidence in its own space hardware ecosystem and readiness to compete in global commercial launches. It also strengthens domestic communication networks critical to India’s Digital India and space economy ambitions.
With another powerful liftoff behind it, ISRO’s “Bahubali” has reaffirmed its status as the backbone of India’s heavy-lift missions. As CMS-03 begins its journey to its final orbital slot, the successful flight marks not just a technological triumph—but a symbolic leap for India’s growing space independence.
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