* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Gerhard Zucker

Blobrana · L

Scarp was the site of an experiment by German inventor Gerhard Zucker to deliver the island's post by rocket mail. After initial demonstrations on the Sussex Downs in southern England, a rocket was launched on 28 and a second on 31 July 1934 over a 1600-metre flight path between the Hebridean islands of Harris and Scarp in Scotland. Around 1.07 m long with a diameter of 18 cm, the rocket fuselages were packed with 1,200 envelopes. Both rockets exploded, though most of the smaller second cargo, which included survivors of the first flight, was saved.

Singed envelopes from the exploded rocket can still be seen at the island museum.

Source

Blobrana · L

Gerhard Zucker (1908 - 1985) was a German businessman and rocket engineer. However, none of his machinations proved to be operational, ranging from outright fraud to total failure.
Born in Hasselfelde, he first came to public notice in 1931, when he began to work on the problem of transporting mail by rocket. In 1933 he performed several experiments in the Harz and at Cuxhaven. In 1934, he emigrated to the UK, where he attempted to interest the British government in his rocket.
After a failed rocket demonstration for officials of the British Royal Mail on July 31, 1934, he was deported to Germany, where he was arrested on suspicion of cooperating with the British.
Read more