NationStates Jolt Archive


Government Announces Deal for Reusable Heavy Lifter Spacecraft

Soviet Bloc
28-12-2005, 05:38
"Government Signs Deal to Acquire Europa Heavy Lift Reusable Spacecraft"
Rostov, District I
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Today, it was announced that Kagan Viktor R. Dokhturov has signed a deal worth an estimated $221.6 Billion USD with manufacturing giant Zeppelin Manufacturers Incorporated. The deal, designed to fulfill a necessary niche within the Combined Space Command of the Armed Republic as a heavy-lifting space vehicle, provides the CSCAR with twin Europa-class NERVA reusable orbiters. Each reusable spacecraft would take several years to complete with most of the funds paid in advance.

The Europa-class NERVA reusable orbiter is a heavy lift spacecraft designed, originally, to be launched from altitude from a carrier aircraft or vessel, however, in Armed Republic service the orbiter will be mated with the remaining Proyekt Gusin booster rockets. The orbiter itself is powered by twin nuclear thermal rockets.

When asked about its benefits, Katrina Vimarikov, a senior member of the Combined Space Command directing board, said "The implementation of the Europa orbiter gives the space services the ability to expand their current operations tenfold." She went on to say that the orbiters would be used extensively for orbital missions and potentially for lunar- or Mars-related missions in the near future.

Outside the capitol, protests raged through-out the day as protestors gathered outside the capitol on the day the funds were devoted to the project by the Parliament. One protestor shouted "This is an absolute outrage! This is a blatant example of double standards, especially with the recent crackdown on pollution, now they're dumping radioactive exhaust in our atmosphere?! What's this going to do? Turn the Armed Republic into a wasteland, that's what'll happen!" Riot police were eventually called in but by then the protest had diffused.

When prompted about the potential pollution, capitol information secretary Vyecheslav Renikov replied stating that "there is no credible research that this powerplant will in fact create the pollution that these protestors are suggesting." A Dat' Pizdy engineer later explained that the design of the powerplant is that of a 'closed cycle' where the nuclear reactions take place in a closed environment with the propellant travelling over it, resulting in an exhaust devoid of radioactive particles.

In similar news, the Parliament passed several hundred billion United States dollars in funding several projects which were put on hold while the nation rebuilt its fledgling space program, the same program which rose to prominence several years ago with its purchase and launching of several space stations and orbital military stations. It is believed that further funding has been approved to modify one, or both, of the Europa orbiters to be utilized for military missions. However, no official comment has been issued in relation to the militarization of the Armed Republic space program.