CNN Alliance News

[KrisNord]

CNN "MOON BOMBING RUN" SUCCESSFULL

It was confirmed this morning that the CNN's joint space operation to gather fresh rock samples has been partly successful. The mission involves three stages and the first has gone according to a mission spokesman "Without a hitch". The mission see's a three part probe being used, the first probe effectively nothing more than a small bomb designed to land and make a fresh crater. This "bomb" is around the weight of a van and is designed to follow a laser emmitted from Mundus to help guide it to an exact target. That part of the mission has been hailed as a great success. The missions spokesman said, "What we hope is that this mission is one of unparalleled international co-operation. We publically announced the target as we wanted as many telescopes of all kinds focused on that point as the more images we gain of the impact the better. By analysing as much footage of the impact and the dust cloud thrown into the air the more we can work out regarding the way the moon was formed, it may also enable us to see if there is a chance of underground water as that should be thrown up. We therefore urge any nation or organisation that recorded the impact to become part of our mission."

24 minutes after the "bombs" impact a small lander touched down on the exact same spot to gather fresh samples of rock. It is hoped that by collecting samples of freshly exposed rock we may learn more about he geology of the moon. That part of the mission has gone according to plan and it is expected that at lunch time tomorrow the lander will have gathered its samples and be ready for its return flight. At that point the lander will launch itself back into orbit where it will reunite with the remaining section of the mission which is the Return Flight Vehicle which will then bring the lander and its fresh samples back to Mundus.

The news will see the first fresh moon rocks brought home for several years, however with Tytor recently landing on the moon it is unknown whether they brought fresh samples back with them. "So far this mission is going smoothly and we'll all be praying it remains that way. We hope to be able to confirm safe extraction tomorrow evening and then its just a short hop home." The project is the 2nd joint CNN space mission with the first being the "Inflatable Space Station (InfSS)" test which saw one astronaut from each nation spend four days in space. Further operations are expected with long stays on the InfSS planned for later this year.

[KrisNord]

"MOON DRAGON" TO LAUNCH IN DECEMBER

The joint space programme of the CNN intend to launch their latest project in December. Following on from the recent mission which saw a fresh set of moon rocks brought back to Mundus the CNN now plan to visit one of the moons of Ninurta (RL Saturn). The latest mission will see an Ui Cenneslaig built launch vehicle put a probe into position to head towards Ninurta. Once in orbit the probe will take several images of the planet before heading into orbit around one of the moons thought most likely to resemble Mundus. The moon was extensively studied by the Nya Åland probe known as Longboat III which flew past the moon last year. The probe will once in place descend towards the surface however once within the moons dense atmosphere it will launch a flying probe which is being built by East Moreland's EMAC. The 2nd probe will be an electric powered unmanned air vehicle which will be able to cruise through the moons sky as it has about one-seventh the gravity but four times the atmospheric density of Mundus making it much easier to fly.

The team is being lead by Cenneg scientist Professor Hamilton who said, "The aircraft should be able to fly non-stop for a year, assuming the conditions don't radically change, we'll attempt at the end to land the vehicle on the moons dunes and use its camera to take a panoramic view of the moon." Prof.Hamilton also believes the project may work alongside other nations, "Its our understanding that a joint Rokkenjiman and Tytor mission is planned for the same moon, as always we'd be open to comparing notes and sharing data as our mission progresses, assuming they would do likewise." The mission will see scientists from all four CNN nations part of mission control based just outside Claith.

CNN WOMENS RUGBY PLAY FIRST FIXTURE
CNN Ladies 24 - 28 Bakkermaya

A joint CNN Women's Rugby team today became the first joint CNN women's sports team to represent the alliance. They took on the Bakkermayan national team in the first of a best of three series which will take place in Bakkermaya. The game was tight but the hosts ran out winners against the multinational team. The CNN team was expected to dominate with players coming from East Moreland and the Unified Iwi representing nations with a fine rugby heritage. The shock came however as at times it seemed like team work had broken down completely with the team which have only been together two weeks.

The home team scored two tries quickly before the CNN drew things back with tries from Sarah Cousins from East Moreland and Maori Scrum Half Susie Umana. After half time the CNN team scored a quick drop goal from Cenneg Fly Half Hailey Meredith who was later yellow carded for a high tackle. The CNN then scored a full length of the field try after Cousins intercepted a pass and returned it the full pitch length. Bakkermaya then dominated the game to the final whistle.

After the game the CNN's coach, former World Cup winning Coach and current Lodjain coach Sir Clyde Winwood said, "For a first game we did well. The girls produced some excellent rugby in spells but the problem was that we just don't know each other. We've a week now before the make or break second game and that has to be our focus. We've natural talent in our players and so must trust in that." The game saw 60,000 spectators which may well be a record for a womens international rugby game. The teams play again in Wellow next Saturday and the CNN need to win to ensure the final game isn't a nothing match.

[DaveIronside]

CNN MICROLAUNCH TO TAKE PLACE IN NEXT 48 HOURS

The CNN Joint Space programme has announced that a jointly funded space launch is due to take place in the next 48 hours. The launch will put a micro-satellite, weighing less than 100kg and around the size of a suitcase into orbit. The satellites purpose is as of yet being kept confidential however a spokesman for the project said, "Once the thing is up there and working we will hopefully not just be able to explain what the satellite is but also be able to show you. Part of the test requires an element of secrecy but there is nothing for the world to be concerned about. Just if we let the cat out of the bag things could be manipulated at make the test less scientific." The spokesman did confirm that the launch would take place in Ui Cenneslaig with a mission control team made up of experts drawn from all four nations, the satellite package was programmed by SmartWar from East Moreland however it is understood that part of the hardware was manufactured by the Tepuhawa company from the Unified Iwi, a company more accustomed to making navigational equipment for civilian naval vessels.

[KrisNord]

CNN SUPEREYE SATELLITE A SUCCESS

Yesterday during a single launch the joint CNN programme launched four satellites capable of using Synthetic Aperture Radar. Normally satellites utilising this technoloy weigh a tonne at least and cost in excess of $100million, however the four CNN satellites weighed 400kg in total and cost a combined $80million. Radar images can be difficult to interpret for the casual observer, but they're a powerful tool with which to monitor and map Mundus. The system is highly accurate and able to detect objects of as small as 100cm across regardless of weather conditions or time of day. The launch was partly kept secret to allow the satellite to photograph Portworth military base without those there being aware. The test was to be able to fill in an accurate report of the status of the base from only the new satellite images.

The images were shown to an East Moreland Naval Intelligence Officer who said, "It was difficult at first to interpret the images but after a second or two we had super accurate images. We could make out clearly directions guns were pointing in and even pick out gaps between individual cargo containers." The images will also become more accurate as more satellites are connected.

The Cenneg mission director said, "At present we have four of these satellites focusing on a target. The more we have the more detailed the image becomes. The major cost of launching satellites like this is not in the production of them but in the launch. We can cut down the cost massively with these. We can get ten satellites for the price of one under this technology. Our aim is now for the CNN to fund a constellation of 50 of these satellites. We intend to use them both for scientific studies carried out by our institutions and also commercially. For example if say a company in Bakkermaya was considering a new route for a railroad it would normally take them weeks to survey a potential route. Using our constellation they could achieve this in just a matter of hours after analysing data we can give from satellites."

The launch featured hardware manufactured in Ui Cenneslaig as well as The Unified Iwi, the majority of the software was developed by SmartWar in East Moreland. It was further announced another three of these satellites will be launched at the end of the month.

[DaveIronside]

CNN SUPEREYE SATELLITE DISAGREES WITH NOOBIAN GOVERNMENT

Following reports in the Noobia Tribune of an unfolding humanitarian disaster in the aftermath of a recent natural disaster the CNN along with several other nations prepared to send aid to the neighbours of Ui Cenneslaig. The offer of aid through both NGO's such as the Joint Emergency Team, the CNN and individual nations was however refused when President Akubundu Achebe of Noobia stated "there is no humanitarian crisis in Noobia. Furthermore, there is no crisis at all".

The CNN had however prior to President Achebe's announcement tasked the four new prototype imaging satellites launched last week to overfly the coastal regions of Noobia. The satellites have been able to provide a before and after series of images by comparing with archive images taken by various other satellites over the year. The images were released to the media by the Cenneg Space Agency Mission Control who are managing the satellites, their spokesman said. "I am no expert but it is clear to see that from the before image (Headline picture) and then the after image (End of Article) that the cyclone has caused a great deal of damage. It is also clear that people in the region are still living there and I believe that will be causing a whole host of issues."

The East Moreland delegate to the Joint Emergency Team is Charlotte Murray-Davis who said, "From the images it is clear that some people are going to be struggling to find clean water, more than likely waste pipes will have burst and fresh water supplies will be contaminated with either salt water or sewage. They're is a real risk of diseases such as cholera and the Noobian government have as far as the images show not begun large scale responses yet. JET currently are moving supplies and equipment into Ui Cenneslaig and should the situation change or President Achebe call upon our support then we will be ready to respond. I worry that for some reason we stand on the brink of a situation that could plunge hundreds of thousands into life threatening danger for no reason."

Sir Harry Samuelson the East Moreland Minister of Defence also spoke saying, "We have taken around 15,000 useful images as the satellites flew over the region. All of these will be made available to the Noobian government as soon as possible in order to help inform them of the scale of damage, positions of survivors and various other pieces of data. We will have one of the satellites capable of imaging the region roughly every six hours and should Noobia ask for it to be tasked for a specific region we can facilitate that."