India on Saturday achieved another milestone in space technology with the successful launch of its heaviest communication satellite, GSAT-7R (CMS-03), aimed at boosting the Indian Navy’s strategic communication and maritime surveillance capabilities.
The 4,400-kg satellite, built with indigenous technology, was launched aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
The mission marks the fifth operational flight of the LVM3, India’s most powerful launch vehicle, which earlier carried Chandrayaan-3 to the Moon’s south pole.
Designed to enhance secure communication links across the Indian Ocean Region and the mainland, GSAT-7R will significantly strengthen the Navy’s real-time connectivity and maritime domain awareness, providing a vital edge in regional security operations.
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The 43.5-metre-tall rocket, weighing 642 tonnes, executed eight flight sequences before successfully placing the satellite into an elliptical orbit at an altitude of 179 km and a velocity of 10 km per second.
ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan hailed the mission as a major achievement, noting that the LVM3 had once again demonstrated its reliability by lifting a record payload.
He said the success reaffirmed the rocket’s capability for future high-stakes missions, including India’s upcoming human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan.
