ISRO Launches Heaviest Communication Satellite GSAT-7R on LVM3-M5 'Bahubali' Rocket
ISRO successfully launched its heaviest communication satellite, GSAT-7R, weighing 4,410 kg, aboard the LVM3-M5 rocket named 'Bahubali'. This mission strengthens the Indian Navy's secure communication network and maritime domain awareness across the Indian Ocean Region. The LVM3-M5 rocket, India's most powerful launcher, delivered the satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, marking a significant advancement in India's space and defense capabilities.
India's space program achieved a major milestone as ISRO launched GSAT-7R, the country's heaviest communication satellite to date, weighing approximately 4,410 kg. The satellite was successfully placed into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) using the LVM3-M5 rocket, also known as 'Bahubali', which is India's most powerful launch vehicle. This launch enhances the Indian Navy's communication infrastructure, enabling secure, multi-band real-time communication crucial for naval operations, air defense, and strategic command control over a vast oceanic and terrestrial area across the Indian Ocean Region. The LVM3-M5 rocket is a three-stage medium-lift vehicle comprising solid, liquid, and cryogenic propulsion stages, capable of carrying payloads up to 8,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit. This mission marks the fifth operational flight of the LVM3 series, which also launched Chandrayaan-3. The success of this launch boosts India's strategic maritime and defense capabilities by upgrading the existing communication network, previously supported by the GSAT-7 satellite launched in 2013. The mission exemplifies ISRO's growing expertise in heavy-lift launches and underlines India’s expanding role in space for both civilian and defense applications.
