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NASA: Money key to more shuttle flights

Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. The crew is headed to the international space station. (AP Photo/John Raoux)Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, Nov. 16, 2009. The crew is headed to the international space station. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's space shuttle manager said Tuesday it wouldn't be hard to add more shuttle flights. The real question is money.

Program manager John Shannon said it costs $200 million a month to keep the fleet flying.

Four more shuttle missions are planned before the aircraft are to be retired this fall. Some in Congress, though, are pushing for additional flights.

Last month, President Obama killed NASA's Constellation program, which would have created a shuttle successor.

Mr. Shannon said NASA already has a fuel tank and set of boosters for one additional flight. He said getting other shuttle parts would not be a problem.

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