Algeria’s first telecommunications satellite built and developed by the China Great Wall Industry Corp. (CGWIC) has been successfully deployed. The Alcomsat-1 satellite was launched aboard a Chinese Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre yesterday at 16:40 GMT (11:40 EST).
Alcomsat-1 will be utilised for telecommunications, television broadcasting and providing internet services. The satellite is equipped with 33 transponders, two in L-band, 12 in Ka-band and 19 in Ku-band and has a design life of approximately 15 years. At 5,225 kilograms, the Alcomsat-1 satellite was right on the edge of the Long March 3B’s Geostationary Transfer Orbit payload capacity.
According to the Algerian Press Service, “The exploitation and control of the Algerian satellite will be carried out by ASAL engineers from the telecommunications system exploitation centres of Boughezoul (Medea) and Bouchaoui (Algiers)”
Following the successful launch, CGWIC representatives stated that the launch marked a “good beginning of space cooperation,” between the two countries. Representatives also revealed that the company anticipated additional Algerian space projects to be established soon.
With this latest launch, China continues to prove that their Long March launch vehicles are a force to be reckoned with. Late last month, a three-stage Long March 6 successfully deployed three Jilin imaging satellites.
Image Credit: Xinhua
