Are the rovers cut out to detect alien life?

Scientists at the University of Leicester find that the more instruments a robotic explorer uses, the better it is at finding signs of life. (msnbc.com)

Joint ESA/NASA team wins international award
The Ulysses mission operations team has won an international award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the success and scientific productivity of the joint ESA/NASA observatory mission, now orbiting the poles of the Sun. (ESA)

GIOVE-B transmitting its first signals
PR 26-2008  Following a successful launch on 27 April, GIOVE-B began transmitting navigation signals today. This is a truly historic step for satellite navigation since GIOVE-B is now, for the first time, transmitting the GPS-Galileo common signal using a specific optimised waveform, MBOC (multiplexed binary offset carrier), in accordance with the agreement drawn up in July 2007 by the EU and the US for their respective systems, Galileo and the future GPS III. (ESA)

When E.T. phoned home, where did he call?

Where might extraterrestrial life lurk? Check out eight of the most promising prospects, ranging from Mars to distant stars. (msnbc.com)

XMM-Newton discovers part of missing matter in the universe
ESA’s orbiting X-ray observatory XMM-Newton has been used by a team of international astronomers to uncover part of the missing matter in the universe. (ESA)