We will lift you up!

Mobile rocket base (“Mobile Raketenbasis” (MORABA)) is a department of Space Operations and Astronaut Training of the German Aerospace Center.

It originated from the “Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Weltraumforschung” (working group for space research), which was co-founded by the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and the “Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Luftfahrt e. V.” (DVL/German Research Institute for Aviation), and was given its official name on 1 January 1967. The first mobile campaigns were used to study a solar eclipse on the Greek island of Euboea in May 1966, and to research the Earth’s magnetic field in Esrange, Kiruna in the spring of 1967.

Since the beginnings, almost 500 campaigns have been completed – in Antarctica, Australia, Brazil, France, Greenland, India, Italy, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Spain, the USA and other countries.

MORABA – alongside NASA – is the only institution in the western world which has the capability, the experience and the mobile infrastructure to prepare and carry out scientific high altitude research missions anywhere in the world.

An insight into MORABAs´ recent work and projects can be found in the status report.

Infrastructure for Rocket Launches and Satellite TT&C

  • Radar tracking system
  • Telemetry and tracking stations
  • Telecommand station
  • Launching devices for rockets and balloons
  • Support systems (Communication, power supply etc.)

Mechanical Systems

  • Rocket tail and fin units and substructures
  • Systems for passive staging
  • De-spin systems
  • Parachute recovery systems

Electronic Systems

  • Integrated high-frequency systems for rockets and balloons
  • Multi-channel TV transmission systems
  • On-board systems for positional and rotational rate control in conjunction with telemetry and telecommand
  • Ignition units
  • Mobile electrical and mechanical ground systems
  • Telemetry and telecommand systems