Mon Nov 03 07:02:35 UTC 2025: News Article:
ISRO Launches Heaviest Communications Satellite, GSAT-7R, for Indian Navy
Chennai, India – November 3, 2025 – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSAT-7R communications satellite for the Indian Navy on November 2nd. Weighing in at 4,410 kg, this marks the heaviest communications satellite ever launched from Indian soil.
The launch utilized ISRO’s most powerful launch vehicle, the LVM-3. GSAT-7R is designed for wide coverage and high power to serve the entire country and surrounding seas.
India’s communications satellites are notably heavy due to a combination of factors. These factors include broad coverage across multiple frequency bands, the need for high-power amplifiers and large deployable antennas, long service life, and extensive redundancy to ensure continued operation even in the event of failures.
The satellite’s long life, in particular, demands redundancy in critical systems and requires robust structures and thermal control.
According to ISRO sources, such elements are what increase mass of the rocket and even require construction that is robust enough to withstand radiation and repeated heating and cooling cycles. The satellite must also carry a significant amount of propellant to reach geostationary orbit and maintain its position for over a decade.
While electric propulsion systems could potentially reduce propellant mass in the future, the focus remains on developing powerful, versatile satellites with extended lifespans to best serve India’s communication needs.
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