China to launch satellite in search of dark matter

China's top scientific research institute is in the process of developing five space research satellites, including one for the detection of dark matter particles.

"We expect to launch at least three to four of them before 2015," said Bai Chunli, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) at the first meeting of the academy's newly founded advisory committee in Beijing Tuesday.

The other four satellites include one for the conduct of quantum science experiments, an X ray telescope, a retrievable scientific study satellite and a solar activity study satellite, Bai said.