Liftoff alert: 5.26 pm IST today from Sriharikota

On a crisp Sunday morning, the countdown clock at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (SDSC-SHAR) began its final tick-tock. The 43.5-metre tall launch vehicle, affectionately nick-named ‘Bahubali’, stood tall on the second launch pad, ready to carry the gargantuan communication satellite CMS-03 into space.

The moment is historic because this is India’s heaviest communication satellite to date, and its launch marks another stride in the country’s push to build self-reliant, high-capability space infrastructure.

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Meet the star of the show: CMS-03 – weight & mission

The heavy-weight: CMS-03 weighs in at about 4,410 kg, making it the heaviest communications satellite ever India has launched from Indian soil into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

Multi-band, multi-mission: This is not just another satellite. CMS-03 is a multi-band communication satellite designed to serve wide oceanic zones around the Indian landmass, far beyond terrestrial shores.

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In strategic terms, the satellite will bolster naval, air and sea-based communication networks. Its role is especially critical for the Indian Navy – linking warships, aircraft and remote maritime assets with uninterrupted connectivity.

The launch machine: LVM3-M5 ‘Bahubali’

Anatomy of the rocket: The vehicle used is the LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) in its M5 version – also called GSLV Mk III. It features:

Two large S200 solid rocket strap-ons for liftoff thrust.

A liquid-propellant core stage (L110) powered by Vikas engines.

A third, cryogenic upper stage (C25) using indigenised tech.

This three-stage architecture gives ISRO the muscle to launch 4,000 kg-class satellites into GTO, and up to 8,000 kg into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

LVM3 has a clean track record, including the major Chandrayaan‑3 mission that landed near the lunar south pole in 2023. For this mission, the fully assembled rocket with CMS-03 onboard was rolled out to the pad on 26 October and moved into pre-launch operations.

Mission timing & launch details

Date: Sunday, 2 November 2025

Time: 17:26 IST (5.26 pm) for liftoff from Sriharikota

Launch site: Second launch pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre

Orbit target: Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), from where the satellite will move to its final geostationary stance

Everything is reported ‘go’ by ISRO, the rocket is on pad, integration is complete and the countdown has officially commenced.

Where to watch and how to follow

ISRO typically streams live launch coverage via its official website and social-media channels. Viewers can watch the live stream here.

Visit the ISRO ‘LVM3-M5/CMS-03 Mission’ page for streaming links and launch-brochure.