New NASA program furthers space exploration

Less than a month after the Space Shuttle made its final landing, NASA announced that operations of the International Space Station as well as human exploration will be getting some extra focus.

The new program named the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate will specifically focus on areas beyond low-Earth orbit and will manage the Space Station commercial crew and cargo developmental programs, building a spacecraft made to travel beyond low-Earth orbit, developing a heavy-lift rocket and more, a NASA news release said.

"America is opening a bold new chapter in human space exploration," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said.