Otrag Zaire Credit - © Mark Wade

In December 1975 Otrag signed an agreement with the Congolese government to established a rocket range to test its low-cost rockets deep in the interior at Shaba (Katanga) province. The austere site included logistic support via antique British Argosy transports landing at a dirt strip on a plateau overlooking the jungle. Here a pad and gantry were erected and flight tests began in 1977. However Otrag's activities made the great powers nervous. The USSR was not interested in Germany achieving an indigenous long-range rocket activity. The government of the Congo was pressured by the USSR to withdraw permission to use the site. Otrag was thrown out of the country in April 1979.

1977 May 18 - 08:15 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Otrag. OTRAG 1 4x9m Otrag Flight 1 Agency: OTRAG. Apogee: 15 km (9 mi). Four-module test vehicle, 6 m long. Propulsion test. Reached 20 km altitude. 100% successful.

1978 May 19 - 22:01 GMT - Launch Vehicle: Otrag. OTRAG 2 4x9m Otrag Flight 2 Agency: OTRAG. Apogee: 30 km (18 mi). Four-module test vehicle, 6 m long. High altitude night test. Reached 150 km altitude.