U.S. space exploration planners say the next big piece of human hardware needed on the road to Mars is a modular habitat that could be stationed near the Moon and visited by early manned Orion capsule missions.

Sierra Nevada Space Systems will deliver its Dream Chaser engineering test article to NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center in California around year’s end and plans to resume atmospheric drop testing in the first quarter of 2016.

NASA is moving forward in the real world with studies of concepts for an ascent vehicle to lift humans from the surface of the red planet.

After being the monopoly rocket supplier to the U.S. government for national security launches for nearly 10 years, the tables have turned for United Launch Alliance.

Our pick of the week's top aerospace and defense news, including Virgin Galactic's rocket engine breakthrough.

Though the bulk of ULA’s work is still with the U.S. government and will remain so for years to come, CEO Tory Bruno is posturing the company to be more competitive in the commercial market.

"A flawless six hour journey for the Progress 61 vehicle, every step of the way," said Rob Navias, NASA public affairs officer, from the agency's Mission Control, where Thursday's Russian Progress launch and docking were monitored.

Spectroscopic data from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have confirmed that dark streaks appearing on Martian slopes are the result of liquid water.