| The Mainland has launched two satellites to help monitor natural disasters. Xinhua news agency said the satellites were launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in northern Shanxi Province. Not only will they improve monitoring of natural disasters but they will also reduce the need for overseas
help. In addition to the usual typhoons and annual summer floods, China has been rocked by a number of severe natural disasters this year that have killed thousands and caused huge economic losses. After suffering the worst winter snow storms in 50 years, an earthquake struck southwest China in May killing more than 80,000
people and leaving millions
homeless. China used satellites images provided by the United States to help assess damage to roads, reservoirs and bridges in the aftermath of the May 12th
earthquake. Last year, China
sent 43 domestically developed satellites into orbit, along with six spaceships and a lunar probe. |
