ISRO’s LVM3 lifts off from Sriharikota carrying heaviest communication satellite CMS-03
CHENNAI , NOV 2 : ISRO successfully launched its heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03, on board the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3-M5) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Sunday.
After the 24-hour countdown concluded, the 43.5 metre tall rocket soared into the skies at the fixed time of 5.26 pm from the second launch pad at the spaceport, about 135 km from Chennai.
After a flight journey of about 16-20 minutes, the satellite is expected to be separated upon reaching an altitude of about 180 km, ISRO said.
The multi-band communication satellite, weighing 4410kg, also called as GSAT-7R, will provide services over a wide oceanic region and the Indian landmass.
It is the heaviest satellite to be carried by a domestic rocket, launched from the Indian soil and into the GTO.
With this launch, India aims to enhance its maritime connectivity, boost disaster response capabilities, even in remote coastal locations, and reinforce its space independence in launching heavy indigenously made satellites. It has been specially designed for the Indian Navy and will improve the secure communication for the defence sector.
ISRO signed the Rs 1,589-crore contract to develop the satellite for the navy in 2019. This satellite will replace GSAT-7 Rukmini, which was launched in 2013.
The Indian space agency has been utilising the Kourou launch base in French Guiana for launching heavier satellites.
In December 2018, ISRO had successfully launched communication satellite GSAT-11, weighing about 5,854 kg and the heaviest spacecraft built by the space agency, from French Guiana.
-PTI
