A plane passenger captured a rocket blasting into space in India.

Ponraj Arumugam recorded the Indian Space Research Organization's 'Launch Vehicle Mark-III' rocket soaring into the sky while on a flight from Chennai to Dhaka on July 14.

Footage from onboard the Airbus A320 from low cost carrier IndiGo shows the object leaving a trail of white smoke as it flew past the plane and headed for the moon.

The rocket carrying the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft had launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota island in Andra Pradesh state last Friday.

The Chandrayaan, which means 'moon vehicle' in Sanskrit, is composed of a lander, rover, and a propulsion module. It is expected to reach the moon on August 23.

Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Sreedhara Somanath said: 'Our dear LVM-3 has already put Chandrayaan-3 craft into the precise orbit around Earth — 170×36,500 kilometers was its intended target orbit, and it is precisely there now. Let us wish all the best for the Chandrayaan-3 craft to make its farther orbit-raising maneuvers and travel toward the moon in the coming days.'

In a statement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: 'Chandrayaan-3 scripts a new chapter in India's space odyssey. It soars high, elevating the dreams and ambitions of a every Indian. This momentous achievement is a testament to our scientists' relentless dedication. I salute their spirit and ingenuity!'

Chandrayaan-3 is the third of India's lunar exploration missions. It was launched four years after the previous Chandrayaan-2 effort failed in 2019.

If successful, India will join the US, Russia, and China as the only countries to have achieved a soft-landing of a spacecraft on the moon.