NASA: Money key to more shuttle flights

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - NASA's space shuttle manager says it wouldn't be hard to add more shuttle flights. The real question is money.

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

Right now, the space shuttles are supposed to retire this fall. Four more missions are planned. Some in Congress, though, are pushing for additional flights.

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

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