ISRO Rocket Launch Today Updates: 'Bahubali' lifts off with a record-heavy satellite

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ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the launch vehicle successfully injected the communication satellite into the required orbit. He recalled that the rocket's previous launch was the "most prestigious Chandrayaan 3, which brought pride to the nation." He also added that the rocket achieved "yet another pride" on Sunday after succeeding with the "heavier satellite."

Dubbed as ‘Bahubali' for its heavy launch capabilities, the LVM3-M5 is a three-stage launch vehicle with two solid motor strap-ons (S200), a liquid propellant core stage (L110) and a cryogenic stage (C25).

All eight LVM 3 launches, including its experimental mission, have been successful, achieving a 100% success rate.

PM Narendra Modi lauded ISRO in an X post, saying “our space sector continues to make us proud”. “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,” he said. Union Minister Jitendra Singh also hailed the ISRO and PM Modi for a string of successful space missions.

Here is what ISRO chairman V Narayanan said on the launch of CMS-03 communication satellite onboard LVM-3.
"The capability of this GSLV launcher is around 4000 kg to GTO and for the first time we have lifted 4410 kg to an elliptical orbit... It has performed extremely well, and this is the eighth launch of the LVM-3 vehicle. All the launches of the LVM-3 vehicle have been successfully accomplished by ISRO, and it is a 100% reliable vehicle. The same vehicle is also earmarked for taking our Gaganyatri-2 space also... Right now, the satellite is healthy. All the propulsion system valves and isolation valves are opened, and the satellite is healthy," ANI quoted him as saying.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday lauded the successful launch of the Indian Navy's GSAT 7R (CMS-03) by the LVM3 launch vehicle, terming it as "Bahubali."

Sharing an X post, the Union Minister hailed the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a string of successful space missions.

"India's Bahubali scales the skies with the successful launch of LVM3M5 Mission. "Bahubali", as it is being popularly referred, the LVM3-M5 rocket is carrying the CMS-03 communication satellite, the heaviest ever to be launched from Indian soil into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). ISRO continues to script one success after another. Thanks, PM Modi, for the unflinching government support," Jitendra Singh wrote.

The CMS-03 satellite is a replacement for the GSAT 7 series, launched in 2013.

As pointed out by ISRO leadership, the mission was a success despite bad weather conditions.

ISRO leaders celebrate the mission success and compliment all involved teams.

The ISRO Chairman congratulated all the teams after the mission's success.

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan is addressing the media after a successful CMS-03 mission.

ISRO declares the mission successful.

Cryogenic stage of the launch completed, satellite seperates

Cryo stage is expected to work for 600 seconds before seperating.

The Cryo stage performance is normal as tracking continues

Cryo stage ignition starts

LVM3-M5 lifts off with heavy communication satellite CMS-03 from Sriharikota.

All set for lift-off from Sriharikota as launch is now just a few minutes away.

Automatic launch sequence for the CMS-03 mission has been initiated.

Procedures for the launch of the heavy satellite are underway.

Launch procedures for the heavy satellite lift-off will begin shortly.

Today's launch could mark the end of ISRO's reliance on foreign partners for launching heavy satellites. The space agency had been earlier utilising launch vehicles provided by France-headquartered Arianespace for the same.

ISRO initiated a 24-hour countdown for the launch, which commenced on Saturday at 5:26 pm. On Sunday, the space agency said the countdown was progressing smoothly.

In its latest update, ISRO stated that the launch procedures would commence at 4:56 pm IST on Sunday, with lift-off scheduled for 5:26 pm from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

For the ambitious Gaganyaan mission, ISRO had planned the human-rated LVM3 rocket as the launch vehicle, which is named HRLV.

The launch is set to take place from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota.

The LVM3-M5 launch will have 8 sequences, with the CMS-03 being separated from the vehicle at an altitude of around 179 kilometres, at a velocity of around 10 km per second.