India successfully launched its heaviest-ever communication satellite on Sunday, marking another major achievement in the country’s rapidly advancing space programme.
The CMS-03 satellite lifted off at 5:26 p.m. (11:56 GMT) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, aboard the powerful LVM3-M5 rocket. The launch vehicle, standing 43.5 metres tall, is an upgraded version of the one that carried India’s Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft to the Moon in August 2023.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the successful launch, calling it another proud moment for the nation’s space sector. “Our space sector continues to make us proud!” Modi said, reiterating his government’s goal of sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040.
According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), CMS-03 weighs approximately 4,410 kilograms (9,722 pounds), making it the heaviest communication satellite ever launched by India. The satellite is designed to enhance the nation’s communications infrastructure, with the Indian Navy noting that it will provide secure communication links between ships, aircraft, and submarines — a crucial upgrade for defence and maritime operations.
ISRO officials said the mission underscores India’s growing technological capabilities and its commitment to strengthening both civilian and military communication networks through space-based systems.
The successful deployment of CMS-03 follows a string of high-profile achievements for India’s space programme. In August 2023, the country became the fourth nation — after the United States, Russia, and China — to achieve a controlled landing on the Moon with its Chandrayaan-3 mission.
India’s space ambitions have expanded rapidly over the past decade, with growing investment in satellite technology, lunar exploration, and human spaceflight. This year, Indian Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space and the first to reach the International Space Station — a key milestone toward India’s first homegrown crewed space mission, planned for 2027.
Experts say the CMS-03 launch not only enhances India’s strategic communication network but also demonstrates its emergence as a major player in the global space arena.
With this latest success, India continues to strengthen its credentials as a spacefaring nation — one that is combining technological innovation, national pride, and international collaboration to advance its ambitious goals in space exploration.
