Trending 
China on Saturday launched a satellite for Algeria, marking another step in space cooperation between the two countries.
The satellite, called AlSat-3B, was sent into orbit from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.
It was carried by a Long March-2C rocket, according to Xinhua News Agency.
The rocket lifted off at 12.01 pm local time (04:01 GMT), successfully placing the AlSat-3B satellite into its planned orbit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune exchanged congratulatory messages after the launch, Chinese state media said.
The satellite was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
It will be used for land planning, disaster prevention, and disaster response in Algeria.
The launch is part of Algeria’s remote sensing satellite programme. The project is a joint effort between China Great Wall Industry Corporation and the Algerian Space Agency.
China and Algeria signed an agreement in July 2023 to build and launch two satellites, AlSat-3B and AlSat-3A. AlSat-3A was launched earlier this year with ground systems, training, and support services.
The mission was the 629th launch in China’s Long March rocket series.
