China launches AlSat-3B for Algeria; other launches paused ahead of key human flight test
China launched AlSat‑3B, an Algerian remote‑sensing satellite, Jan. 31 from Jiuquan aboard a Long March‑2C, the North African nation's second imaging spacecraft in just over two weeks. Beijing said other launches have been postponed while authorities prepare for a major human spaceflight test; Xi congratulated Algeria's president.