ESA holds robotic vehicle competition (Moldova.org)

The European Space Agency says it has selected eight European university proposals for development of robotic vehicles capable of exploring the moon.ESA's General Studies Program challenged university students to develop a robotic vehicle capable of working in difficult terrain. The eight university teams were chosen for funding to proceed to the design stage of ESA's Lunar Robotics ...

Mars Sample Return: the next step in exploring the Red Planet (Mars Today)

ESA and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) will be co-hosting, in cooperation with NASA and the International Mars Exploration Working Group (IMEWG), an International Conference on 9 and 10 July in the Auditorium of the Bibliotheque Nationale de France in Paris* to discuss the next step in the exploration of Mars.

Mars Sample Return: the next step in exploring the Red Planet (SpaceRef)

ESA and the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) will be co-hosting, in cooperation with NASA and the International Mars Exploration Working Group (IMEWG), an International Conference on 9 and 10 July 2008.

Space radar to improve miners' safety (EurekAlert!)

Advanced ground penetration radar, originally developed to investigate the soil structure on the moon and other planets on ESA planetary missions, is now being used in Canadian mines to spot hidden cracks and weaknesses in mine roofs.

Future space robots may think for themselves (MSNBC)

Scientists today can only dream of having a robotic explorer like EVE from the Disney/Pixar film "WALL-E." But some researchers are working on autonomous spacecraft, airships and rovers that can cooperate intelligently while exploring distant worlds.

Up Next, Recaps & Links (CBS News)

Stories, links and the place to get more information on stories on CBS News Sunday Morning .