ISRO launches heaviest comsat to boost Navy grid

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday successfully launched the Navy’s GSAT 7R (CMS-03) communication satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The indigenously designed satellite is India’s heaviest communication satellite to date, weighing approximately 4,400 kg.

India’s LVM3 launch vehicle was used to carry the communication satellite to its orbit. It was LVM3's fifth operational flight (LVM3-M5), with the previous mission being the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, when India became the first country to land successfully near the lunar south pole.

This would be the most advanced communication satellite so far for the Navy. The satellite would strengthen the Navy's space-based communications and maritime domain awareness capabilities.

The mission lifespan of the satellite, which was placed in geosynchronous transfer orbit, will be 15 years.

The satellite includes many indigenous state-of-the-art components developed specifically to meet the Navy’s operational requirements.

The GSAT 7R will provide robust telecommunication coverage across the Indian Ocean region. Its payload includes transponders capable of supporting voice, data and video links over multiple communication bands. This satellite will significantly enhance connectivity with high-capacity bandwidth, enabling seamless and secure communication links between ships, aircraft, submarines and maritime operations centres of the Navy.

The launch vehicle was fully assembled and integrated with the spacecraft and moved to the launchpad on October 26 for pre-launch operations.

The LVM3 is a three-stage launch vehicle consisting of two solid propellant S200 strap-ons and core stages comprising L110 liquid stage, the C25 cryogenic stage, the equipment bay and the encapsulated assembly. A cryogenic ignition stage is the final stage of the rocket that uses super-cold liquid propellants, like liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, which are kept at extremely low temperatures.

ISRO chairman Dr V Narayanan said, “The LVM3-M5 has successfully placed the satellite in the geosynchronous orbit. Today's mission has brought glory to India. All vehicles and systems performed satisfactorily. All launches by LVM3-M5 have been successful.”

Narayanan said the satellite was a multi-band communication satellite and designed to perform communication services for 15 years.

“We had a challenging time, as the weather was not cooperative. Even in this difficult weather condition, we successfully achieved the mission in a grand manner,” the chairman added.

Mission director T Victor Joseph said for the first time, ISRO carried out the reignition of the cryogenic engine.