ISRO to Launch Heaviest Communication Satellite CMS-03 via Home-Grown Rocket

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch a communication satellite onboard the heavylift LVM3M5 rocket, also known as 'Bahubali', from Sriharikota on Sunday evening. The CMS-03 satellite, weighing 4,410 kg, is the heaviest to be launched from Indian soil and into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). This mission marks the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 rocket, a three-stage launch vehicle with solid motor strap-ons, a cryogenic stage, and a liquid propellant core stage.

Key Takeaways:

• The CMS-03 satellite is the heaviest to be launched from Indian soil and into a GTO, weighing 4,410 kg.
• The LVM3 rocket, dubbed 'Bahubali', is a heavylift vehicle capable of launching satellites up to 4,000 kg in GTO and 8,000 kg in Low Earth Orbit.
• The LVM3M5 rocket is a three-stage launch vehicle including two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a cryogenic stage (C25), and a liquid propellant core stage (L110).
• ISRO has utilised launch vehicles from Arianespace in the past but has since switched to using home-grown rockets for heavy launches.
• The launch of CMS-03 marks the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 rocket.

Statistics:

• The CMS-03 satellite weighs 4,410 kg.
• The LVM3 rocket is 43.5 meters tall.
• The LVM3 rocket has a payload capacity of up to 4,000 kg in GTO and 8,000 kg in Low Earth Orbit.
• The launch of CMS-03 is scheduled to take place on Sunday evening from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Sources:

• PTI news agency
• Hindustan Times
• ISRO press release