JIUQUAN, China — Algeria’s AlSat-3B remote sensing satellite was successfully placed into orbit on Saturday, January 31, 2026, following a launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, state media reported.
The satellite was carried aloft by a Long March-2C carrier rocket, which lifted off at 12:01 p.m. local time (04:01 GMT), according to Xinhua News Agency. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) confirmed that the rocket performed nominally, deploying AlSat-3B into its designated sun-synchronous orbit approximately 12 minutes after launch.
Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a CASC subsidiary, AlSat-3B is equipped with high-resolution optical imaging capabilities. The satellite will primarily support land-use planning, urban development monitoring, disaster prevention and mitigation, environmental protection, and natural resource management in Algeria.
The launch forms part of a broader cooperation agreement signed in July 2023 between China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) — a commercial arm of CASC — and the Algerian Space Agency (ASAL). The deal covers the delivery of two advanced optical remote sensing satellites: AlSat-3A and AlSat-3B, along with associated ground systems, user training, and technical support services.
AlSat-3A, the first of the pair, was successfully launched on January 15, 2026, from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March-4B rocket. Both satellites are designed to provide Algeria with independent, high-resolution Earth observation data, reducing reliance on foreign imagery and enhancing national decision-making in agriculture, water resource management, urban planning, and emergency response.
Saturday’s mission marked the 629th flight of China’s Long March rocket family, underscoring the reliability of the series that has supported numerous international satellite launches in recent years. The Long March-2C is a two-stage, liquid-fueled rocket commonly used for low-Earth orbit payloads, including remote sensing and scientific satellites.
The AlSat series builds on earlier Algeria-China cooperation. Algeria’s first satellite, Alsat-1, was launched in 2002 with British support, followed by Alsat-2A and Alsat-2B (both launched from India in 2010 and 2016). The AlSat-3 program represents a significant upgrade in resolution and coverage, with both new satellites offering sub-meter panchromatic and multi-spectral imaging capabilities.
Chinese officials described the successful launch as a further strengthening of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Algeria. CGWIC stated that the project “demonstrates the deepening of practical cooperation in the aerospace field between the two countries and contributes to Algeria’s independent space capabilities.”
The Algerian Space Agency welcomed the launch, noting that AlSat-3B will significantly enhance national monitoring of desertification, coastal erosion, agricultural productivity, and disaster risk assessment. ASAL officials indicated that full operational commissioning of both AlSat-3A and AlSat-3B is expected within the coming months, after which data will be made available to government ministries, research institutions, and regional authorities.
The Jiuquan launch was conducted under strict safety protocols and in coordination with international orbital tracking networks. No anomalies were reported during ascent or separation phases.
The successful deployment of AlSat-3B is the latest in a string of China-assisted satellite launches for African nations, including satellites for Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt in recent years. The projects reflect China’s growing role as a key partner in Africa’s space ambitions, offering affordable access to satellite technology, training, and ground infrastructure.
