China's science community moved closer to its goal of a fully integrated system for making high-resolution observations of the Earth's surface from space on Monday, as the first satellite of that system was officially put into operation.

The activation of the Gaofen-1 satellite marks a milestone in a program that will substantially improve the nation's capabilities in disaster relief, surveying and environmental protection, the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, which oversees the program, said in a statement.

The administration said the satellite is able to obtain high-resolution data over vast swaths of land, noting it will take only four days to map the entire globe.