ISRO Prepares for A Trio of Key Space Missions,to Conclude 2025 on a high

By R Anil Kumar

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is concluding 2025 with a trio of key missions involving its LVM3 and PSLV launch vehicles. These launches focus on communication, commercial services, and restoring the operational status of a workhorse rocket

• These missions are part of a busy year for ISRO, which in 2025 also successfully launched the joint NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) earth observation mission and conducted significant tests related to its future projects like the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX)

• Looking ahead, the primary crewed Gaganyaan mission is targeted for 2026, while the Chandrayaan-4 lunar sample return mission is scheduled for a 2027 timeframe

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched almost double the number of missions between 2015 to 2025 than the ones launched between 2005 to 2015

Bengaluru. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to wrap up 2025 with three significant spaceflight missions, marking an active phase for India’s space program. These launches include two using the heavy-lift LVM3 vehicle and a crucial return-to-flight mission for the PSLV following a brief hiatus.

LVM3-M5 (CMS-03) – Launch On 2 November

The first mission in the series, LVM3-M5, is scheduled for lift-off on 2 November 2025 from the Second Launch Pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, at 5:26 PM. This mission will deploy the CMS-03 multi-band communication satellite, designed primarily for advanced naval and maritime communications.

Weighing around 4,400 kilograms, CMS-03 will become the heaviest communication satellite ever launched by ISRO. It aims to provide high-capacity communication services across India and vast oceanic regions. The satellite will replace the ageing GSAT-7, launched in 2013, which served as a dedicated naval communication platform.

The LVM3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3), also known as GSLV MK-III, has been readied for its fifth operational flight. It uses the CE20 cryogenic engine for its upper stage and was fully assembled and integrated before being moved to the launch pad on 26 October.

LVM3-M6 – Scheduled for Early December

Following the November flight, ISRO is gearing up for the LVM3-M6 mission, slated for the first week of December 2025. This will mark the sixth operational flight of the LVM3 launcher.

According to ISRO, flight acceptance hot testing of the CE20 cryogenic engine for this mission was successfully conducted on 14 March 2025 at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri. Each LVM3 mission undergoes rigorous engine validation to ensure reliability and consistency in performance. While payload details remain undisclosed, the mission is expected to support strategic or heavy communication initiatives.

PSLV-C62 – Mid to Late December

ISRO will close the year with the PSLV-C62 mission, slated for mid to late December 2025. This flight will mark the return of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) after a setback in its previous outing, PSLV-C61, which failed in May.

The C61 mission had carried the seventh satellite of the RISAT (Radar Imaging Satellite) series, enhancing India’s space-based surveillance and disaster response capabilities. The forthcoming C62 flight will thus be closely watched as ISRO restores the operational track record of its most versatile launcher.

The PSLV utilises the XL configuration, a workhorse model known for precision orbital insertions. The late-year timeline hints at meticulous ground checks to ensure performance assurance before relaunching the vehicle.

A Strong End To 2025

These three missions reflect ISRO’s steady momentum and technological resilience in 2025. The combination of heavy-lift and medium-lift launches highlights India’s robust launch vehicle ecosystem, spanning strategic communication, surveillance, and national security domains.

With CMS-03 marking ISRO’s heaviest communications satellite yet and PSLV’s comeback consolidating reliability, the organisation is positioning itself strongly for an ambitious 2026 schedule that includes continued Gaganyaan test flights and science missions beyond Earth orbit.

As India prepares to script another chapter in space exploration, the success of these missions will not only enhance technological capabilities but also cement the country’s reputation as a leader in space science for the millions following these developments2026 promises to be a landmark year for ISRO and Indian Space science.

ISRO completed almost double missions in 2015-2025 than in 2005-2015:

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched almost double the number of missions between 2015 to 2025 than the ones launched between 2005 to 2015.

After Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister, the South Asian satellite was conceived, built, launched and donated to South Asian countries. Under his leadership, we are also realising the G20 satellite for G20 countries. Ten years ago, we had only one startup company in the space industry. Today, we have more than 300 startups in the space industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has contributed immensely for the growth of Indian startups and the development of South Asian satellites, which were conceived, built, and launched in India and also donated to countries.

Since the launch of rocket on 21 November 1963 from the Thumba area near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, ISRO has launched 133 satellite missions, 102 launch vehicle missions, five technology demonstration missions, and 4217 rockets, and carried out 240 total of missions. Moreover, 433 satellites of 34 countries have been launched in India.

Commercial launches (since 2015)

• Total customer satellites: 396 launched on a commercial basis between January 2015 and December 2024.
• Foreign satellites: 433 foreign satellites of 34 Countries.
• Indian customer satellites: 3 Indian customer satellites.
• Launch vehicles: These satellites were launched using ISRO’s PSLV, LVM3, and SSLV launch vehicles.

— (With Inputs from ISRO)