Welcome to MORABA
The Mobile Rocket Base (“Mobile Raketenbasis” (MORABA)) is a department of Space Operations and Astronaut Training of the German Aerospace Center, based at the Oberpfaffenhofen site.
MORABA has been carrying out scientific sounding missions with unmanned rockets and balloons, and developing the mechanical and electrical systems required for such missions since the 60s.
The areas of application for sounding rockets are diverse and range from atmospheric research, astronomy, hypersonic research and technology testing to experiments in zero gravity.
MORABA has developed a unique mobile infrastructure and hardware for the planning, preparation and implementation of sounding projects. In principle, it can be used to launch a rocket from anywhere on Earth within a short space of time.
This experience and competence is valued and sought after by national and international facilities, industry and institutions of higher education.
- Mobile infrastructure for rocket launches and satellite TT&C
- Launch services
- Launch sites
- Technology and applications for suborbital missions
For detailled information on our services and mobile infrastructure please see the MORABA portfolio documents:
DLR_RB_Portfolio_MORABA_Mobile-Launch-and-Range-Infrastructure.pdf
DLR_RB_Portfolio_MORABA-Sounding-Rocket-Flight-Experiments.pdf
Current MORABA Gallery
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MORABA News
MAPHEUS-15: 600th rocket launch beyond the Arctic Circle
On 11 November 2024 at 07:38 UTC, a research rocket soared over the icy expanse of Swedish Lapland for the 600th time. The mission, MAPHEUS 15 (Material Physics Experiments under Zero Gravity), carried 21 scientific experiments from both the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) and international collaborators.
MAPHEUS-14: Four hundred kilograms of research in microgravity
On 27 February 2024 at 8:27 CET the MAPHEUS 14 high-altitude research rocket, operated by the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR), successfully launched from the Esrange Space Center near Kiruna, Sweden. The high-altitude rocket reached an altitude of 265 kilometres and provided approximately six and a half minutes of microgravity for its scientific payload – a total of 14 experiments which were all safely recovered following landing. The findings from these experiments will benefit future space missions, the development of technology and materials as well as people on Earth.