Algerian Space Agency (ASA) on Monday said it has launched three satellites from the Sriharikota space centre in southern India.

ASA specified that it successfully placed the AlSat 1B, AlSat 2B, and AlSat 1N into orbit, adding that they will be used for Earth observation.

The source noted that the launch of these three satellites is part of the national space program worth 1.5 billion USD adopted by the government in 2006, "aimed at strengthening Algeria's capacity in terms of Earth observation, in a bid to serve sustainable development and strengthen national sovereignty."

Algeria launched its first satellite (AlSat 1) in 2002 from Russia.

Algeria has been producing its own small satellites since 2010.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2016)