Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) makes history once again, launching the LVM3-M5 'Bahubali' successfully, injecting the heaviest satellite CMS-03 into the Earth's orbit. ISRO's heaviest payload-carrying rocket, the LVM3-M5, also known as Bhaubali, has proved itself in front of the world once again. The rocket was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, located in Andhra Pradesh.
This completes the fifth consecutive launch of the LVM3-M5 rocket. During its mission, the rocket successfully injected the heaviest multi-band communication satellite CMS-03 into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
Stages of the LVM3- M5
The rocket is fitted with three thruster engines for three separate stages -
First stage: Two S200 boosters
Second stage: One L110 stage unit
Third stage: One C25 cryogenic upper stage
The combined effort of these three modules can generate enough thrust for LVM3 to get out of Earth's atmosphere.
Journey to the Earth's orbit
The rocket took off at 05:26 p.m. Indian Standard Time. After 126 seconds of the launch, two of the S200 boosters detached from the rocket while the L110 engines took their place and kept generating thrust for the next 200 seconds. Following the L110 engine's separation, the C25 or the cryogenic engine started pushing the rocket further towards its destination orbit for more than the next 640 seconds, leading to the successful injection of the CMS-03 satellite into the target orbit.
This mission marked the 8th successful launch of the LVM3 rockets and the fifth successful mission of its operational series.
A great feat for science, a memorable part of the nation's history
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO through his post on X, "Our space sector continues to make us proud! Congratulations ISRO on the successful launch of India’s heaviest communication satellite, CMS-03. Powered by our space scientists, it is commendable how our space sector has become synonymous with excellence and innovation. Their successes have furthered national progress and empowered countless lives."
While congratulating in his X post, Union Minister of Science Dr Jitendra Singh said, "Kudos Team #ISRO! India’s #Bahubali scales the skies, with the successful launch of #LVM3M5 Mission! “Bahubali” as it is being popularly referred, LVM3-M5 rocket is carrying the CMS-03 communication satellite, the heaviest ever to be launched from the Indian soil into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO)."
