India has launched its first heavy communication satellite, CMS-03, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh using its homegrown LVM3-M5 rocket, nicknamed “Bahubali”. It is the first time such a heavy satellite has been sent into orbit from Indian soil using an indigenously built rocket. On Dec 5, 2018, the GSAT-11 satellite, weighing 5,854 kg, was launched from Kourou in French Guiana using a French Ariane-5 VA-246 rocket. NDTV added that this launch marked a major milestone as the Bahubali rocket, standing 43.5m tall, successfully carried the heaviest satellite ever launched from India. The report noted that the multi-band communication satellite is expected to play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity and supporting India’s long-term space communication infrastructure.
