NASA veteran sees program evolve

RUSSELLVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky native who is now a top administrator for NASA says a manned mission to Mars is the main focus of the American space program evolving into a "deep space" venture.

Col. Terry Wilcutt of Russellville is a former space shuttle commander and currently director of NASA’s Office of Safety and Mission Assurance in Washington, D.C. Wilcutt says NASA has transitioned from 135 missions with the shuttle program to a mix of private and public missions as needs are met for the International Space Station and planning continues for the Mars mission.

Wilcutt told The Daily News (http://bit.ly/1yRs6QX ) that while traveling to the Hubble telescope pushed the space shuttle program to its maximum distance potential, new space vehicles are designed for longer distances from Earth.

___

Information from: Daily News, http://www.bgdailynews.com

©2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.