Algerian surveillance satellite launched by Chinese rocket

Algerian and Chinese personnel watch a Long March 2C rocket launch AlSat-3A. (Algerian Ministry of National Defence)

Algeria's AlSat-3A was successfully launched from the Jiuquan Launch Base in northwest China on 15 January, the Algerian Ministry of National Defence (MND) announced later that day.

It described AlSat-3A as the product of a partnership between the Algerian Space Agency and the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), and said it “will allow our country to have additional data through very high-resolution satellite capabilities dedicated to observation, and to consolidate our system in the field of geospatial intelligence and value-added geospatial information, such as mapping and digital terrain models.”

The China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), a CASC subsidiary, said it used a Long March 2C (CZ-2C) rocket to put AlSat-3B into its predetermined orbit. It described the satellite as a “remote-sensing system primarily designed to support land-use planning and to enhance capabilities in disaster prevention and mitigation in Algeria”.

It added that its contract with the Algerian Space Agency, agreed in July 2023, covered two optical remote-sensing satellites, a ground system, training, and other support services.

It also noted that it previously launched the Alcomsat-1 communications satellite for Algeria in December 2017.

AlSat-1 was part of the multinational disaster monitoring constellation initiative and launched from Russia in November 2002. AlSat-2A and AlSat-2B were built by EADS Astrium (now part of Airbus) and launched from India in July 2010 and September 2016.