"Our plan calls for first human flight of CEV in 2014, preceding that, is a flight test program that commences in 2012," NASA's Constellation program director Jeff Hanley said Monday. The program aims to prepare NASA for a return to the moon as a stepping stone to Mars.

    "We are confident we can meet the goal of the vision to get human boots back on the moon by 2020," Hanley said.

    After years of job losses, budget cuts and uncertainty, the Ohio-based NASA Glenn Research Center now is taking a leading role in developing the new space vehicle officials hope will carry people back to the moon and lead the way to Mars.

    The decision means the center now faces the challenge of transforming its focus from aeronautics research to replacing the 25-year-old space shuttle.

    NASA said work on the module that powers and propels the crew exploration vehicle would be done at the center, which includes 24 facilities near Cleveland's airport and the 6,400-acre Plum Brook Station in Sandusky. The crew exploration vehicle is modeled after the Apollo-era capsule and the target date for its first flight is 2014.

    NASA Glenn also will lead work on the adapter that connects the exploration vehicle to the rocket that will carry it into orbit. Portions of the rocket will be designed at NASA Glenn as well.

    Also Monday, additional design work with some robotic flights was given to Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The Tennessee Valley complex developed the Saturn V rocket two generations ago.

    Marshall Director David King said getting back to the moon will be even tougher than reaching it the first time since plans now call for an extended stay rather than just a brief visit. Enditem

    (Agencies)