China launches remote-sensing satellite for Algeria

China launched a Long March 2C carrier rocket Thursday afternoon, placing a remote-sensing satellite for Algeria into orbit, according to China Great Wall Industry, the project's contractor.

The rocket lifted off at 12:01 pm from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and successfully deployed the AlSat-3A satellite into its preset orbit, the company said. China Great Wall Industry is the overseas trading arm of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

Developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, another CASC subsidiary, AlSat-3A is designed to collect data and images to support land-use planning as well as disaster prevention and mitigation.

Under a contract signed in July 2023 between China Great Wall Industry and the Algerian Space Agency, China will deliver two optical remote-sensing satellites to the North African country and provide ground systems, training and other support services. AlSat-3A is the first satellite delivered under the agreement.

The launch marks a new milestone in space cooperation between China and Algeria, following the successful launch of the Alcomsat-1 communications satellite in December 2017.

The Long March 2C rocket was developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, also a CASC subsidiary. The rocket is 43 meters long and 3.35 meters in diameter, with a liftoff weight of 242.5 metric tons. It is primarily used to deploy satellites into low-Earth and sun-synchronous orbits.

The mission was the 626th launch of the Long March rocket family and China's third rocket launch in 2026.