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Shaba North (also mentioned as Kapani Tonneo)<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> was the launch site of the first rockets launched by Orbital Transport und Raketen AktienGesellschaft, or Orbital Forwarding Company in English ("OTRAG").<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
It is located at the edge of a mesa in Shaba (now Katanga province), the Democratic Republic of Congo.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1976 Luvua Airport was built to supply the site.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref>
In 1977 and in 1978 three test flights of OTRAG rockets were launched from Shaba North.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
In 1979 OTRAG stopped launching rockets from Shaba North for political reasons.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its launching activities were later moved to Sabha, Libya.
LaunchesEdit
Three test flights were launched from Shaba North.<ref name=":0" />
| Date | OTRAG version | Apogee | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 May 18 | 4x9m | 15 km | Four-module test vehicle, 6 m long; propulsion test |
| 1978 May 19 | 4x9m | 30 km | Four-module test vehicle, 6 m long; high altitude night test |
| 1978 Jun 5 | 4x15m | 0 | Lost control and crashed in seconds |