(Ecofin Agency) - ASAL, the Algerian space agency, is already thinking about a second communications satellite (Alcomsat-2) to replace the first (Alcomsat-1) at the end of its service life in space. During the ASAL open house organised on December 3-4, 2018, its managing director Azzedine Oussedik (photo) revealed that the agency’s ambition was to let Algerians build that new equipment.  

According to him, "since 2002, we have trained a high-level human capital which increased from 100 to 600". Algeria wants to capitalize on this expertise for its coming space achievements. For Azzedine Oussedik, "it is a really good thing, on the technical level, to plan for Alcomsat-2. We will not wait for the fifteenth tear (the lifetime of Alcomsat-1 launched in December 2017 in China) to think of building a new communications satellite”. An early beginning will leave the space administration enough time to peacefully build the infrastructure.

Alcomsat-2 is just one of the numerous latest generation satellites ASAL is planning to launch into space in the framework of its 2020-2040 space programme just after the completion of the current one that has been under implementation since 2006 and allowed the launch of five satellites. Let’s note that Algeria wants to gain its space independence.