BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhuanet) -- A small satellite is expected to be launched in May next year to serve the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games by monitoring the capital city's venue construction, environment and traffic conditions though 2009.

    It will help fulfill Beijing's promise to make the Olympics a high-tech event, and is expected to provide nationwide satellite remote sensing services.

    The satellite will also be the fifth one of the International Disaster Relief Network, which has seven in total, sources with the project said.

    The government will invest 190 million yuan (23 million US dollars) in the project, which will be supervised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology.

    After being launched, the 100-kilogram satellite will orbit 600kilometers above the earth and it will work for five years in space, going around the earth once every 100 minutes, said sourceswith the Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and technology.

    "The satellite will scan the earth surface though remote sensing techniques and the resolution ratio of remote sensing photos will be four meters," Wang Zhiyong, an expert of the project, said, adding that photos will be downloaded every two months.

    "The satellite will provide direct and scientific proof for thegovernment to make decisions and supervise issues of environmentalprotection, urban construction, disasters and traffic conditions,"Wang said.

    According to Wang, the construction of Olympic venues will be under control through the use of the satellite.

    Olympic venue construction will reach a peak this year as construction of 11 gymnasiums and four Olympic facilities, such asthe Olympic Village, begins, said sources with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

    Last year, construction was started on four Olympic venues, including the National Stadium and the National Swimming Center.

    Beijing has started some 250 high-tech projects serving the 2008 Olympic Games and a layout is expected to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee in October.