ISRO’s LVM3 launches heaviest satellite to orbit from Indian soil

• India’s LVM3 launch vehicle successfully launched the CMS-03 communication satellite in its fifth operational flight (LVM3-M5) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota on November 2. 

• CMS-03, weighing about 4,410 kg, is the heaviest communication satellite to be launched to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil.

• CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite that will provide services over a wide oceanic region including the Indian landmass. 

• ISRO chief V. Narayanan said the mission also saw the success of another experiment, the indigenously developed C-25 cryogenic stage.

• The CMS-03 satellite is designed to provide communication services for at least 15 years.

• Earlier, ISRO utilised the services of Kourou launch base in French Guiana by Ariane rockets offered by France-based Arianespace, for launching heavier satellites.

• On December 5, 2018 ISRO had launched its heaviest communication satellite GSAT-11 weighing 5,854 kg, onboard an Ariane-5 VA-246 rocket from French Guiana.

• LVM3-M5, a three stage launch vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C25) gives ISRO full self-reliance in launching heavier communication satellites.

PSLV, GSLV and LVM3

• The launch vehicles or launchers used by ISRO include Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-III). 

• PSLV has been ISRO’s trusted workhorse for scientists due to its reliability in achieving mission success. PSLV has been a versatile launch vehicle and can carry payloads of about 1,750 kg.

• For satellites weighing up to 500 kg and required to be placed in Low Earth Orbit at an altitude of about 500 km, ISRO banks on its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

• The GSLV with a cryogenic upper stage is used for carrying heavier satellites of about 2,200 kg.

• ISRO has renamed the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark-III as Launch Vehicle Mark-III, mainly to identify its task of placing satellites into a variety of orbits.

• The LVM3 rockets have enhanced the capability by carrying payloads of over 4,000 kg.

• The LVM3 vehicle was developed with completely indigenous technology including the C25 cryogenic stage. It has a track record of all successful launches, from the first development flight LVM3 Crew module Atmospheric Re-entry Experiment (CARE) launched in December 2014.

• This LVM3 rocket is capable of carrying payload to GTO weighing 4,000 kg and for Low Earth Orbit, payloads of 8,000 kg with its powerful cryogenic stage. 

• The two S200 solid rocket boosters located on the sides of the rocket provide the thrust required for lift off. The S200 boosters are developed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.

• The third stage is L110 Liquid Stage and is powered by two Vikas engines designed and developed at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.

• The previous mission of LVM-3 rocket was the successful launch of Chandrayaan-3 mission, wherein, India became the first country to land successfully near the lunar South pole in 2023. The satellite weighed 3,841.4 kg.