On its maiden flight India's small rocket keeps the nation in suspense

The Indian space agency said the EOS-02 satellite is an experimental optical imaging satellite with high spatial resolution. The objective is to realise and fly an experimental imaging satellite with short turnaround time and showcase launch on demand capability. (TNN)

The maiden launch of India's brand new rocket is keeping the country in suspense as to its fate on Sunday morning. (Twitter)

Hoping to celebrate in advance the country's 75th anniversary of Independence in style the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched its freshly minted rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle - Developmental Flight (SSLV-D1). (Twitter)

On its first developmental flight, the SSLV-D1 carried an earth observation satellite-02 (EOS-02), formerly known as Microsatellite-2, weighing about 145 kg and the eight kg AZAADISAT built by 750 students of government schools facilitated by SpaceKidz India. (Video grab)

Speaking about the mission, ISRO Chairman S. Somanath said: "The SSLV-D1 mission was completed. All the stages of the rocket performed as expected. There is some data loss in the terminal stage of the rocket." (Video grab)

India's newest rocket is 34-metre tall and weighs 120 ton. As per the flight plan, just over 12 minutes into its flight, the SSLV-D1 should deliver into space the EOS-2 satellite and then the AZAADISAT a few seconds later. (TNN)