SHANGHAI, July 20 -- CHINA plans to conduct a 3-year exploration of the Sun with three satellites beginning from 2012, the peak year for Sun energy, which is expected to be the first study of its kind, Xinhua news agency reported today.

The exploration will focus on Sun-Earth space environment to offer data for space disaster alerts and develop the country's deep space exploration, said Tu Chuanyi, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Tu said that the project might reveal how the solar system influences the Earth's environment, which might improve the ability to forecast weather.

Three satellites will be stationed between the Sun and the Earth, one to monitor the Sun's activity and two others to monitor changes in the Earth's environment.

More than 10 foreign space scientists from Germany, France, Belgium, Austria and Canada will participate in the plan.

The Sun's disturbances can cause glitches in satellites and harm astronauts, as well as affect communication equipment on the Earth, said Liu Weining, a Canadian scientist.

Liu said Canada will join in the design of two of the satellites that will orbit the earth, and will equip them with scientific instruments.

Liu said that there are still many technological challenges to face. China has begun studying related technologies, Tu said.

China also plans to launch space exploration missions to the Moon and Mars, said Sun Laiyan, head of the China National Space Administration.

It is estimated that in the past decade, China's investment in space science, including infrastructure and programs, exceeded 900 million yuan (US$112.5 million).