Vaarshire
23-03-2009, 22:42
THE VAARSHIRE TIMES
Vaarshire's English-language Newspaper
PORT HENRI, VAARSHIRE- The Royal Vaar Air Force, Space Divison, which was formed eight years ago, has conducted several tests of rockets, with several crossing the 100km "boundary of outer space". But it was only today that Vaarshire has ever put anything into orbit. A Princess Anne rocket, the most advanced rocket in the RVAFSD fleet, was launched at 12:10 PM Vaarshire Time (11:40 AM GMT) from the RVAFSD launchpad outside the small, southwestern town of Port Henri. There were two astronauts and one satellite on board.
The astronauts on board, the first ever Vaar citizens in space, were Willem Ganesvoort and Nigel Weston. These two astronauts, first-generation Vaar citizens with ancestry from the Netherlands and the UK respectively were chosen to represent the two major cultures of Vaarshire that make the nation unique. The satellite that was put into orbit is named VCOM 8, and is a communications satellite owned by VCom Cellular Phone Service. While it is the eighth satellite owned by VCom to be put into space, it is the first satellite put into space from Vaarshire, by Vaar citizens.
After placing the satellite in orbit, the astronauts will orbit the Earth and go on a space walk, and return to Earth the day after tomorrow. Prince Johannes de Vaar said "This is a historic moment, as Vaarshire has gone beyond the Earth. It has risen from recent strife like a Phoenix and will continue to rise." He also said "I pledge that Vaar Astronauts will walk on the Moon by the year 2025."
Opponents to the Vaar Space Program claim that it will use too much money that needs to go to replacing infrastructure and other, more urgent needs. The leader of the Conservatives, the opposition party in Vaarliament, said "While I do not deny the wonder and history of this moment, I believe there are more urgent issues facing Vaarshire than the need to put people on the Moon. Our leader is Prince Johannes de Vaar, he shouldn't be trying to be John de Kennedy."
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Armed Forces, Air Department both had no comment on what the mission cost. It is known, however, that the money was not taken from tax revenue but instead from money earned by the sale of several of Vaarshire's aging aircraft to small nations. However, it is expected that tax revenue will be used for the space program in the future, something that angered the Vaarshire Libertarians; the party leader called the program "A historic waste of money." Chancellor of Parliament Jeffrey Roosa, leader of the Leftist Party, urged "Not to politicize the historic event" and said "This is the dawn of a new day for Vaarshire."
Vaarshire's English-language Newspaper
PORT HENRI, VAARSHIRE- The Royal Vaar Air Force, Space Divison, which was formed eight years ago, has conducted several tests of rockets, with several crossing the 100km "boundary of outer space". But it was only today that Vaarshire has ever put anything into orbit. A Princess Anne rocket, the most advanced rocket in the RVAFSD fleet, was launched at 12:10 PM Vaarshire Time (11:40 AM GMT) from the RVAFSD launchpad outside the small, southwestern town of Port Henri. There were two astronauts and one satellite on board.
The astronauts on board, the first ever Vaar citizens in space, were Willem Ganesvoort and Nigel Weston. These two astronauts, first-generation Vaar citizens with ancestry from the Netherlands and the UK respectively were chosen to represent the two major cultures of Vaarshire that make the nation unique. The satellite that was put into orbit is named VCOM 8, and is a communications satellite owned by VCom Cellular Phone Service. While it is the eighth satellite owned by VCom to be put into space, it is the first satellite put into space from Vaarshire, by Vaar citizens.
After placing the satellite in orbit, the astronauts will orbit the Earth and go on a space walk, and return to Earth the day after tomorrow. Prince Johannes de Vaar said "This is a historic moment, as Vaarshire has gone beyond the Earth. It has risen from recent strife like a Phoenix and will continue to rise." He also said "I pledge that Vaar Astronauts will walk on the Moon by the year 2025."
Opponents to the Vaar Space Program claim that it will use too much money that needs to go to replacing infrastructure and other, more urgent needs. The leader of the Conservatives, the opposition party in Vaarliament, said "While I do not deny the wonder and history of this moment, I believe there are more urgent issues facing Vaarshire than the need to put people on the Moon. Our leader is Prince Johannes de Vaar, he shouldn't be trying to be John de Kennedy."
The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Armed Forces, Air Department both had no comment on what the mission cost. It is known, however, that the money was not taken from tax revenue but instead from money earned by the sale of several of Vaarshire's aging aircraft to small nations. However, it is expected that tax revenue will be used for the space program in the future, something that angered the Vaarshire Libertarians; the party leader called the program "A historic waste of money." Chancellor of Parliament Jeffrey Roosa, leader of the Leftist Party, urged "Not to politicize the historic event" and said "This is the dawn of a new day for Vaarshire."