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:
Current MORABA Gallery
MORABA News
Successful static firing test with DLR involvement
On 1 October 2021, an S50 solid-propellant rocket motor, which will form the first two stages of the new VLM-1 launch vehicle, successfully completed a static firing test in the operational area of Usina Coronel Abner (UCA), in São José dos Campos, São Paulo state, Brazil. The rocket motor that has now been tested will also be used for a new European sounding rocket.
Five and a half minutes of microgravity for experiments
On 24 May 2021, three experiments from the German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt; DLR) set off on their short journey into microgravity and back again. The DLR sounding rocket MAPHEUS 11 lifted off from the Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden and carried the materials science experiments MARS, X-RISE and SOMEX to an altitude of 221 kilometres. In the 15 minutes between launch and landing, the payloads followed a parabolic path after the propulsion systems were jettisoned. This allowed five and a half minutes of microgravity to carry out the experiments.