India successfully completed a major satellite launch on Sunday as the CMS-03 satellite lifted off from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh at 5:26 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi has previously outlined his goal of sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040, further expanding the country’s space ambitions.
Weighing approximately 4,410 kilograms, CMS-03 is now the heaviest communication satellite launched from Indian soil, the Indian Space Research Organisation reported. The Indian Navy added that the satellite would strengthen secure communication networks for naval ships, submarines, and aircraft.
The satellite was propelled into orbit using the LVM3-M5, a 43.5 metre tall launcher that is a refined version of the rocket responsible for sending India’s unmanned lunar lander to the Moon in August 2023. India joined the ranks of Russia, the United States and China after that successful controlled landing.
India’s space programme has expanded rapidly over the past decade as the country continues to showcase its growing spacefaring capabilities. Earlier this year, Indian Air Force test pilot Shubhanshu Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space and the first to reach the International Space Station.