ISRO all set for launch of heaviest communication satellite from Indian soil onboard LVM3-M5
The satellite, weighing around 4,410 kg, will be the heaviest satellite to be launched into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) from Indian territory, the space agency said. The satellite will travel on an LVM3-M5 rocket, dubbed ‘Bahubali’ for its heavy lift capacity.
The launch vehicle has been fully assembled and integrated with the spacecraft and moved to the second launch pad here to begin pre-launch operations, the Bengaluru-based space agency said on Saturday.
The 43.5-meter-long rocket, called ‘Bahubali’ because it can carry heavier loads of up to 4,000 kg, is planned to take off at 17.26 on November 2.
ISRO said that LVM3- (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) is ISRO’s new heavy lift launch vehicle and is used for deployment of 4,000 kg spacecraft into GTO in a cost-effective manner.
This three-stage launch vehicle, comprising two solid motor belts (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C25), gives ISRO full confidence to launch heavier communications satellites weighing up to 4,000 kg at GTO. LVM3- Also called Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) MkIII by ISRO scientists. LVM3-M5 is ISRO’s fifth operational flight. he said.
The space agency had previously launched its heaviest communications satellite, GSAT-11, on an Ariane-5 VA-246 rocket from the Kourou launch base in French Guiana on December 5, 2018. Weighing approximately 5,854 kg, GSAT-11 is the heaviest satellite manufactured by ISRO.
ISRO said Sunday’s mission objective is for CMS-03, a multi-band communications satellite, to provide services over a wide oceanic region, including the Indian landmass.
The previous mission of the LVM-3 rocket was the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission; here India became the first country to successfully land near the Moon’s South pole in 2023.
The LVM3- rocket, with its powerful cryogenic stage, has the capacity to carry 4,000 kg GTO and 8,000 kg Low Earth Orbit payloads.
Two S200 solid rocket boosters on the sides of the rocket provide the thrust required for takeoff. The S200 boosters were developed at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center in 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.
