Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today hailed the successful launch of GSLV D5 satellite as an important step in the area of science and technology and congratulated the ISRO scientists for the feat.

Ansari said that with this launch using the indigenous cryogenic engine, India has joined a select group of countries that have mastered this sophisticated space technology.

"All credit goes to our scientists and engineers for their competence, hard work and dedication. The nation is proud of them," he said in his message.

Singh, while congratulating the scientists, said the launch marked "another important step that the country has taken in the area of science and technology."