Bahubali Soars Again: ISRO’s CMS-03 Launch Heralds a New Era in India’s Space Story

ISRO’s successful launch of CMS-03 aboard the powerful LVM3-M5 “Bahubali” rocket marks another milestone in India’s ascent as a space power. The 4,410 kg satellite strengthens national communications and showcases India’s heavy-lift capabilities. Under Chairman V. Narayanan, India’s expanding missions—from Chandrayaan-3 to NISAR—and its Space Vision 2047 plan signal bold goals in human spaceflight, deep-space exploration, and private-sector growth, shaping India’s stellar future.

In yet another milestone for India’s fast-evolving space program, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday scripted history with the successful lift-off of its most massive communication satellite to date — CMS-03 — aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket, fondly dubbed Bahubali for its immense strength and dependability. The launch, executed from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 5:26 PM, illuminated the twilight skies and reaffirmed India’s growing eminence as a global space power.

A Towering Feat in Indian Spaceflight

Tipping the scales at 4,410 kilograms, CMS-03 has earned the distinction of being the heaviest payload ever deployed from Indian soil into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The satellite’s advanced multi-band capabilities are designed to bolster India’s communication network, expanding coverage across the mainland and India’s maritime boundaries.

The LVM3-M5 vehicle, standing 43.5 meters tall, showcased flawless execution throughout its flight sequence. This mission marked the fifth operational success of India’s most powerful launcher — a three-stage heavy-lift vehicle featuring twin solid boosters (S200), a liquid core (L110), and a high-efficiency cryogenic upper stage (C25). The outcome once again demonstrated India’s technical maturity and complete autonomy in deploying heavy payloads — a capability once exclusive to a few elite nations.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan reflected on the agency’s six-decade journey: “From the first sounding rocket launched from Tumba in 1963 to today’s milestones, India’s strides in space science have been nothing short of transformational.”

India’s Expanding Universe: The New Frontier

What began as a mission to provide low-cost satellite services has now evolved into one of the most ambitious and diversified space programs in the world. Over the past few years, ISRO has chalked up landmark achievements that have placed India firmly among the world’s top spacefaring nations:

• Chandrayaan-3 (2023): India became the first nation to land near the Moon’s South Pole.

  
  

• Aditya-L1 (2024): The country’s first solar observatory reached its halo orbit, paving the way for breakthroughs in solar research.

  
  

• XPoSat (2024): With this X-ray polarimetry mission, India joined a short list of nations exploring deep space physics.

  
  

• TV-D1 Abort Test (2024): A crucial success in ensuring astronaut safety ahead of the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program.

  
  

• NISAR (2025): A collaboration with NASA employing dual-frequency radar for detailed global imaging.

  
  

• SpaDeX (2025): India’s first in-orbit docking experiment — an essential step toward building and maintaining future space stations.

  
  

Under Narayanan’s stewardship, 2025 stands as ISRO’s most prolific year yet, with more than 200 scientific and technological milestones, from vast solar data releases to successful in-space power transmission — achievements pushing India’s frontiers of possibility.

India’s Space Vision 2047: The Celestial Roadmap

Looking ahead, the Space Vision 2047 blueprint lays out a bold agenda aiming for self-reliance, deep-space exploration, and commercial leadership. Landmark goals on this path include:

• Gaganyaan: India’s first human spaceflight mission, with an uncrewed launch expected by the end of 2025 and a crewed flight by 2027.

  
  

• Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS): A modular space station targeted for full operational status by 2035.

  
  

• Chandrayaan-4: A lunar sample return mission that will mark India’s debut in extraterrestrial material recovery.

  
  

• Venus Orbiter Mission (2028): A deep dive into the mysteries of Venus’s atmosphere and surface.

  
  

• Next-Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV): A reusable heavy-lift rocket system under development, expected to debut by 2032.

  
  

• Crewed Lunar Landing (2040): A long-term dream — placing Indian astronauts on the Moon.

Private Sector Momentum and Launch Infrastructure Boom

ISRO’s vision is no longer a purely governmental endeavor. The Indian Space Policy 2023 and the IN-SPACe initiative have dramatically opened the sector to private enterprise. Over 300 startups are now part of India’s growing space ecosystem, innovating in areas ranging from small launch vehicles to satellite miniaturization and advanced propulsion.

To support this expansion, ISRO is building new infrastructure, including:

• A dedicated spaceport at Kulasekarapattinam, Tamil Nadu, designed for small satellite launches.

  
  

• A third launch pad at Sriharikota — an investment of ₹400 crores to enable simultaneous missions.

  
  

• A target of 50 launches per year by 2029 — a fivefold jump from current volumes.

  
  

Chairman Narayanan emphasized that India’s space achievements have a ripple effect beyond science:

“When private players succeed, when startups thrive — the nation benefits. The space ecosystem’s growth directly uplifts society.”

From Aryabhata to Bahubali: A Nation Reaching Beyond the Sky

From the humble Aryabhata satellite in 1975 to the mighty Bahubali rocket in 2025, India’s cosmic journey encapsulates decades of innovation, perseverance, and vision. Each defining moment — from Mangalyaan’s orbit around Mars to Chandrayaan-3’s gentle lunar touch — has underscored India’s mastery of frugal yet formidable technology.

With the successful deployment of CMS-03, India has once again signaled that its ambitions are not limited to keeping pace with the global space race — they are setting its direction.

As the nation marches toward Viksit Bharat 2047, one truth shines clear: India’s space odyssey is not merely about reaching the stars — it’s about making them part of its destiny.