ISRO Successfully Launches Indian Navy’s GSAT-7R Communication Satellite

Mangalore Today News Network

Sriharikota, Nov 2, 2025: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday successfully launched the Indian Navy’s GSAT-7R (CMS-03) communication satellite, marking another milestone in the nation’s space and defence capabilities. The indigenously developed satellite, weighing around 4,400 kg, is India’s heaviest communication satellite to be launched from home soil.

The satellite was lifted into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket, also known as GSLV MkIII — ISRO’s most powerful launch vehicle. The three-stage rocket comprises two solid strap-on boosters (S200), a liquid core stage (L110), and an upper cryogenic stage (C25), all developed using indigenous technology.

This was the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 series. The rocket’s advanced cryogenic stage enables it to carry payloads of up to 4,000 kg to GTO and 8,000 kg to low Earth orbit. ISRO is also developing a human-rated version of the launcher, HRLV, for its upcoming Gaganyaan mission.

While CMS-03 is the heaviest communication satellite launched from Indian soil, ISRO’s overall heaviest satellite remains GSAT-11, which weighed 5,854 kg and was launched aboard an Ariane-5 rocket from French Guiana in 2018.

The GSAT-7R mission is expected to significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s secure communication network, providing advanced multi-band connectivity across the Indian Ocean region and strengthening maritime surveillance and operational capabilities.