OTRAG Rocket

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The OTRAG rocket was a modular satellite-delivery rocket developed by the OTRAG company. The OTRAG rocket was to become a rocket built up from several mass-produced units, intended to carry satellites with a weight of 1-10 tons or more into orbit. Mass production meant that the vehicle was projected to have been 10x cheaper than conventional vehicles of similar capability.

Only small units were built and tested in Shaba North, Zaire and Seba Oasis, Libya, whereby heights of 20 to 50 kilometers were reached. The rockets used there were 6 and 12 meters long. The last launch of an OTRAG rocket took place on September 19, 1983 in Esrange. Following this launch, the OTRAG rocket was to be used in high altitude research.

OTRAG seems to have been basically squelched by the American launch providers who were unwilling to see a competing launch provider, particularly a German launch provider emerge, and rumours were started that the project was weaponry related. This eventually killed the project.