Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: NASA and the European Space Agency have signed an agreement calling for the Europeans to provide the service module for the Orion space capsule, the U.S. space agency's crew vehicle for exploration beyond Earth orbit.

MSN: Mars rover survives 'brain transplant' with flying colors

The US space agency hopes these changes will save it money that can then be invested in exploration missions far beyond Earth, at destinations such as asteroids and Mars.

BBC: Nasa chief hails new era in space

As part of our commitment to maintain American leadership in the exploration of Mars beyond the Curiosity mission, NASA will launch the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) orbiter next year.

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While it may become the jumping off point for further exploration of our solar system and beyond, there are more earthly prizes in sight, with some scientists believing that it has the potential to solve the world's dependence on fossil fuels.

CNN: Mining the moon for a nuclear future

Designed to be flexible for launching spacecraft for crew and cargo missions, SLS and Orion will expand human presence beyond low-Earth orbit and enable new missions of exploration in the solar system.

ENGADGET: NASA awards Boeing, SpaceX and Sierra Nevada $30 million in contracts

At this very hour, the Mars exploration rover Spirit is searching for evidence of life beyond the Earth.

CNN: Bush: 'It is time for America to take the next steps' in space

With the experience and knowledge gained on the moon, we will then be ready to take the next steps of space exploration: human missions to Mars and to worlds beyond.

CNN: Bush: 'It is time for America to take the next steps' in space

Space flight is dangerous, just as exploration has been dangerous since the earliest days when humans sought to learn what existed beyond the horizon.

NPR: Former Astronaut on NASA Risk Assessment

Golden, then a staff geologist and now head of deepwater exploration for BP, came up with a theory that massive oil deposits lay just beyond the Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico, in waters 300 meters deep or more.

FORBES: Going deep