An Indian rocket carrying a radar imaging satellite (Risat-1) blasted off early Thursday from the first launch pad at the spaceport here, around 80 km north of Chennai.

At exactly 5.47 a.m., the rocket - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle C19 (PSLV-C19) - standing 44.5 metres tall and weighing 321 tons and holding a one way ticket hurtled itself towards the skies ferrying the 1,858 kg Risat-1.