BEIJING, November 5 (RIA Novosti) - China put into orbit on Wednesday two remote sensing satellites to gather hydrological and meteorological data, the Xinhua news agency said.

Both satellites were launched on board a Long March 2D carrier rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

Chuangxin 1-02 and Shiyan Satellite 3 were successfully inserted into orbit 15 and 16 minutes, respectively, after liftoff.

China has recently unveiled comprehensive space exploration plans, including plans to build its own orbital space station and laboratory before 2020.