Earth observation satellite's HD photos issued

China publicized the first batch of high-definition pictures obtained by Gaofen-1, the first satellite launched for the country's high-definition Earth observation system, on Thursday.

The 13 photos were released by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

They featured images of four cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Yinchuan and Datong - with a resolution of up to 2 meters.

Wang Chengwen, an official with the administration, said the images had attained top international standards and proved the satellite's usefulness.

Xu Wen, director of the China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application, said an application test for the satellite will be conducted in July by its users, which include the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Land and Resources.

Gaofen-1, launched on April 26 from Northwest China's Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, is the first of five or six satellites to be launched for the high-definition Earth observation system between 2011 and 2016.

The satellite will be used for purposes including monitoring land use, mineral resource development, geological disaster surveying and inspection, and environmental evaluation.