by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Jan 19, 2026
China has launched a Long March 2C rocket carrying a distant sensing satellite tv for pc for Algeria, extending lengthy operating area cooperation between the 2 international locations.
The two stage launcher lifted off at 12:01 pm native time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center within the Inner Mongolia autonomous area and positioned the AlSat 3A spacecraft into its deliberate orbit.
Project contractor China Great Wall Industry, the abroad buying and selling arm of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, confirmed that the mission achieved all deliberate aims.
AlSat 3A, constructed by the China Academy of Space Technology, is an optical distant sensing satellite tv for pc designed to gather knowledge and imagery to assist land use planning, catastrophe prevention and mitigation duties in Algeria.
The craft is the primary of two optical distant sensing satellites to be provided to Algeria beneath a contract signed in July 2023 between China Great Wall Industry and the Algerian Space Agency.
The settlement additionally covers supply of related floor methods, personnel coaching and different technical assist companies to assist Algeria function and exploit the brand new satellites.
The newest launch follows the profitable supply of the Alcomsat 1 communications satellite tv for pc in December 2017 and marks what officers describe as a brand new milestone in bilateral area collaboration.
Long March 2C was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, one other subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.
The launcher is 43 meters lengthy with a core diameter of three.35 meters and a liftoff mass of round 242.5 metric tons, and is primarily used to position payloads into low Earth and solar synchronous orbits.
This mission was the 626th flight of the Long March rocket household and the third orbital launch performed by China in 2026.
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