Kapani Tonneo

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Kapani Tonneo

Otrag Zaire
Credit: © Mark Wade

In December 1975 Otrag signed an agreement with the Congolese government to established a rocket range to test its low-cost rockets deep in the interior at Shaba (Katanga) province. The austere site included logistic support via antique British Argosy transports landing at a dirt strip on a plateau overlooking the jungle. Here a pad and gantry were erected and flight tests began in 1977. However Otrag's activities made the great powers nervous. The USSR was not interested in Germany achieving an indigenous long-range rocket activity. The government of the Congo was pressured by the USSR to withdraw permission to use the site. Otrag was thrown out of the country in April 1979.

AKA: OTRAG Zaire;Shaba North. First Launch: 1977-05-18. Last Launch: 1978-06-05. Number: 3 . Location: Shaba. Longitude: 28.53 deg. Latitude: -7.93 deg.

Family: Suborbital Launch Site. Country: Congo. Launch Vehicles: Otrag. Bibliography: 2, 572.

Photo Gallery

Shaba North
Location of Shaba North
Credit: © Mark Wade

OTRAG Congo Launch S

1977 May 18 - . 08:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapani Tonneo. Launch Vehicle: OTRAG.

Otrag Flight 1 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: OTRAG. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi). Four-module test vehicle, 6 m long. Propulsion test. Reached 20 km altitude. 100% successful..

1978 May 19 - . 22:01 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapani Tonneo. Launch Vehicle: OTRAG.

Otrag Flight 2 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: OTRAG. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). Four-module test vehicle, 6 m long. High altitude night test. Reached 150 km altitude..

1978 June 5 - . 11:40 GMT - . Launch Site: Kapani Tonneo. Launch Vehicle: OTRAG. FAILURE: Failure. Heeled over and crashed after a few seconds.. Failed Stage: 1.

Otrag Flight 3 - . Nation: Germany. Agency: OTRAG. Apogee: 0 km (0 mi). Four module test vehicle, 12 m long. Pitch and yaw control test. Attempt to reach 100 km, but veered off course on launch due to a valve on one unit being stuck at 50% thrust..

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