CHICAGO (CBS) — The head of the University of Chicago Astronomy and Astrophysics Department says it’s time to look way beyond low-earth orbit for the nation’s next space venture.

As WBBM Newsradio 780’s John Cody reports, professor Rocky Kolb says the space shuttle helped keep the pioneering Hubble space telescope operating, but private industry can probably take over that job.

LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s John Cody reports

“The shuttle has had its run, and now it’s time to do something else,” he said.

Kolb says there is not much scientific information to be gained from more trips to the moon.

“If I were running the show, I would like to go to an asteroid,” he said. “I think if we explore asteroids, it will give great information about the formation of the solar system – something that we are only now discovering how little we know as we explore other planets around other stars.”

Professor Kolb at the University of Chicago says humans will go to Mars, but thinks it should be a joint venture of all nations of the earth.