Chinese ground controllers have initiated an emergency response program to ensure that 15 of its satellites in the space are providing proper support for the rescue and relief operations in the quake-stricken Sichuan Province in the southwest.

The 15 satellites fall into nine types and are providing navigation, weather forecast and remote sourcing services, among others, said sources at the the Xi'an Satellite Measuring and Control Center, in northwestern Shaanxi Province.

Though also affected by the 7.8-magnitude quake on Monday, the center immediately turned into the emergency mode and set up an expert team.

Thousands of emergency applications orders were uploaded to the satellites to make sure they could provide accurate and timely data to the users, the sources said.

All the Chinese satellites on orbits are operating in normal conditions, the sources said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2008)