Rocket tests taking place at UKZN

[HumanShield]

It might be worth mentioning in the article that South Africa has already launched three rockets into space - i.e. above the Karman line of 100km altitude. These were the RSA-3 series rockets, where two of them achieved an apogee of 300km. This was during the period of 1989-1990. The US subsequently closed down the programme and the facilities were destroyed.

One of the prototypes is on display at the SAAF museum in Pretoria.

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This is actually pretty cool. Was this a test bet for launching nukes or developing a platform for it?

 

[garyc]

This is actually pretty cool. Was this a test bet for launching nukes or developing a platform for it?

This was a test bed for the development of the even larger RSA-4 rocket. The intent was for it to be both a nuclear capable ballistic missile and also to be able to launch spy satellites to keep an eye on military movements in the subcontinent. The RSA-3 as launched would have also been able to launch spy satellites in the 300kg range. The RSA-4 would have been able to reach international targets, which was probably one of the reasons why the US disapproved.

 

[HumanShield]

This was a test bed for the development of the even larger RSA-4 rocket. The intent was for it to be both a nuclear capable ballistic missile and also to be able to launch spy satellites to keep an eye on military movements in the subcontinent. The RSA-3 as launched would have also been able to launch spy satellites in the 300kg range. The RSA-4 would have been able to reach international targets, which was probably one of the reasons why the US disapproved.

super interesting that. Very cool to know that.

 

[Moosedrool]

We are nowhere near the equator. Rockets for weather prediction, etc. maybe?

Cape Canaveral 28.39 N
KZN: 28.53 S

That’s so close to similar the Δv requirements in stage one is negligible to gain a nice speed boost from earths rotation.

 

[Swa]

Did these guys go to school?
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Funny google returns many matching results.