Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday announced that its LVM3 launch vehicle is scheduled to lift off with the CMS-03 communication satellite on November 2, 2025, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota.
“India’s LVM3 launch vehicle is scheduled to launch the CMS-03 communication satellite in its fifth operational flight (LVM3-M5) on November 2, 2025,” ISRO said in an official statement.
According to the space agency, CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite designed to deliver enhanced services across a wide oceanic region, including the entire Indian landmass. Weighing about 4,400 kilograms, CMS-03 will be the heaviest communication satellite ever launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian soil.
India’s Most Powerful Rocket Returns to Flight
The upcoming launch marks the fifth operational mission of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) — ISRO’s most powerful rocket — which has demonstrated a reliable record in both communication and lunar missions.
“The previous mission of LVM3 launched the Chandrayaan-3 mission, wherein India became the first country to land successfully near the lunar south pole,” ISRO added.
The space agency confirmed that the LVM3 vehicle has been fully assembled and integrated with the CMS-03 spacecraft, which was moved to the launch pad on October 26 for final pre-launch checks and operations.
Expanding India’s Communication Network
The CMS-03 satellite will strengthen India’s space-based communication infrastructure, supporting applications such as television broadcasting, tele-education, telemedicine, disaster management, and secure communication links for defense and maritime operations.
The mission will also reinforce ISRO’s capabilities in heavy payload launches and geostationary satellite deployment, key components of India’s expanding digital and connectivity ecosystem.