The heaviest communication satellite to be launched from Indian soil onboard a new-generation, homegrown 'Bahubali' rocket was successfully placed into the intended orbit on Sunday, ISRO said.
The communication satellite CMS-03, weighing 4,410 kg, was flown on a LVM3-M5 rocket, enabling the Indian space agency to accomplish this rare feat. CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite and would provide services over a wide oceanic region including the Indian landmass, according to ISRO. The satellite was placed in the desired Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). It is also a replacement for the GSAT 7 series, launched in 2013.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the launch vehicle successfully injected the communication satellite into the required orbit. “The 4410 kg satellite is precisely injected,” he said. In his address from the Mission Control Center post-launch, he described the LVM3 satellite as 'Bahubali,' in an apparent reference to its heavy-lift capability.
He recalled that the rocket’s previous launch was the “most prestigious Chandrayaan 3 which brought pride to the nation.” It achieved “yet another pride” on Sunday after succeeding with the “heavier satellite.” All the eight LVM3 launches, including its experimental mission, have been successful, showing a 100 percent success rate.
The satellite was designed to provide communication services for at least 15 years and is “yet another shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India),” Narayanan, also Secretary, Department of Space, added. The ISRO scientists had a tough time with the mission since the weather was not cooperative, but they worked hard and ensured success, he said.
Prior to Sunday’s launch, the Indian space agency had been utilising the services of the 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 that weigh up to 4,000 kg in GTO. LVM3 is also termed by ISRO scientists as Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) MkIII. Scientists at ISRO have classified launch vehicles depending upon the mission objectives, targeted orbit, and altitude, among others.
The launch vehicles or launchers used by ISRO include the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), GSLV, and LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-III). The space agency has been providing launch services for customer satellites since 1999 from Sriharikota. 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, while the LVM3 rockets have enhanced the capability by carrying payloads of over 4,000 kg, ISRO said.
As regards Sunday’s mission, the LVM3 rocket holds significance as it has successfully launched the heaviest communication satellite from Indian soil. The LVM3-M5 is the fifth operational flight, ISRO said. 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, ISRO said.
For the ambitious Gaganyaan Mission, ISRO has planned the human-rated LVM3 rocket as the launch vehicle, which is named HRLV, ISRO said. This LVM3 rocket is capable of carrying payloads to GTO weighing 4,000 kg and to 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 the L110 Liquid Stage and is powered by two Vikas engines designed and developed at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre. The previous mission of the LVM3 rocket was the successful launch of the 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.