India's remote sensing satellite CARTOSAT-1 was on Thursday successfully placed in orbit, 18 minutes after the PSLV-C6 carrying it lifted off from Sriharikota.

Thirty seconds later, the PSLV-C6 placed another satellite HAMSAT in orbit.

The Indian Space Research Organisation announced that the satellites have been "successfully" placed in the orbit.

PSLV was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.

Soon after the satellites were placed in orbit, President A P J Abdul Kalam lauded the ISRO scientists efforts.

The PSLV-C6, in its ninth flight, soared into the sky from the newly set up state-of-the-art second launch pad at the space centre.

This is the first launch from the second launch pad, built at a cost of Rs 400 crore. This is also the first time ISRO is launching two satellites in one mission. The 295-tonne and 44.4-metre-tall launch vehicle, lifted off at 10.14 a.m.

It placed the satellites into a 618-km Polar Sun Synchronous Orbit.

Besides Kalam, Andhra Pradesh Governor Sushil Kumar Shinde, ISRO Chairman G Madhavan [Images] Nair, former ISRO chief G Kasturirangan and a host of others witnessed the launch.

Built for a mission life of five years, CARTOSAT-1 is mainly intended for cartographic applications. HAMSAT is a micro-satellite for providing satellite-based Amateur Radio Services to the national as well as the international community of Amateur Radio Operators (HAMs).

Once commissioned, CARTOSAT-1 will give further fillip to remote sensing services by providing imagery with improved spatial resolution.

HAMSAT, which will have a life span of two years, is expected to meet the long felt need of the Amateur Radio Operators in the South Asian region who possess the required equipment and operate in the UHF/VHF band based satellite radio communication.

This satellite will play a vital role to provide low cost, readily accessible reliable means of communication during emergencies and calamities like flood, earthquakes and other natural disasters.