From correspondents in Asia Pacific, 01:31 PM IST

China Saturday launched two satellites into orbit for monitoring the environment and forecasting natural disasters.

The two satellites, launched from the Taiyuan satellite launch centre in the northern province of Shanxi and carried by a Long March 2C rocket, were expected to enhance the country's ability to forecast natural disasters, according to Bai Zhaoguang, designer of the satellites.

The satellites, called 'Environment-1', are China's first ecology monitors in space.

The satellites, with an expected lifespan of two years, were equipped with the most advanced imaging system and infrared cameras.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)