China will launch the Gaofen 5 high-resolution Earth observation satellite in September to help with environmental protection efforts, an official overseeing the program said.

Tong Xudong, a senior official at the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, who is in charge of the Gaofen program, told China Daily on Monday that the satellite will be launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province.

"The satellite will soon be assembled and start to go through tests. It will be one of the most advanced satellites of its kind and will have a life span of eight years," Tong said. "Its main tasks will be monitoring air pollutants, water quality and vegetative cover, thus improving environmental protection."