China Launches AlSat-3B Satellite for Algeria | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

China Launches AlSat-3B Satellite for Algeria | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center

China launched an Algerian remote sensing satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in northwest China on January 31, 2026. Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. This is the second satellite that China has launched for Algeria this year. Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), the AlSat-3B satellite will work with its predecessor, AlSat-3A, that was also built by the academy and launched by a Long March 2C rocket from the Jiuquan spaceport on Jan 15.

A Long March-2C carrier rocket lifted off from the launch center at 12:01 (Beijing Time), successfully sending the AlSat-3B satellite into its planned orbit.

This Algerian satellite will be primarily used for land planning, plus disaster prevention and mitigation.

The AlSat-3 project marks a new achievement in space cooperation between China and Algeria following the successful launch of the Alcomsat-1 communications satellite in December 2017, China Great Wall Industry said.

The Long March 2C rocket is produced by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. The rocket is 43 meters long and 3.35 meters in diameter and has a liftoff weight of 242.5 metric tons. It is mainly used to deploy satellites into low-Earth and sun-synchronous orbits.

This launch marked the 629th mission of China's Long March rocket series.

The Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in nortwestern China was founded in 1958. It was the first of China's four spaceports. The launch center has been the focus of many of China's historic space ventures, including the country's first satellite Dong Fang Hong I in 1970 and their first crewed space mission, Shenzhou V, on October 15, 2003. JSLC is now a home for many new Chinese commercial space launch firms.

Note: Long March-2C rocket cooling tiles are shed by design after liftoff when they are no longer needed.

Image Credit: CGTN
Date: Jan. 31, 2026

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