The Associated Press

CLEVELAND - NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe said Friday that a key to the future economic success of the Glenn Research Center lies in a project that seeks to further the space agency's core goals.

NASA Glenn, which has lost 30 percent of its funding since the early 1990s, is the site of Project Prometheus, which aims to send nuclear-powered vehicles deep into the solar system.

O'Keefe said in a speech to the City Club that Prometheus is an important part of NASA's space exploration plans.

"Together we can accomplish something and develop a capability that has eluded us for several decades," he said.

NASA Glenn has been criticized in recent years for losing research projects to other NASA facilities and not doing more to help northeast Ohio's economy.

The center has an annual budget of about $700 million - down from $1 billion when it was developing solar cells for the International Space Station.

Much of the criticism of NASA Glenn was directed at its director, Donald Campbell. He was replaced Oct. 1 by Julian Earls, previously his deputy.

O'Keefe expressed confidence Friday in Earls' ability to improve NASA Glenn's partnership with universities, businesses and civic leaders.

Earls said NASA Glenn has to focus on projects central to the agency's main goal: exploration.

"Prometheus is one of those," he said.

NASA Glenn will receive $40 million in funding for Project Prometheus in 2004, increasing to $70 million in 2006.

Earls said the project is essential for deep space exploration.

"If we're going to get beyond low-earth orbit, then we need to have the power propulsion systems to do so," Earls said.

Increased power for spacecraft would allow NASA to conduct comprehensive studies of the outer planets and their moons, closely examine comets and improve the surface exploration of Mars.

O'Keefe said NASA Glenn also has a responsibility to develop technologies useful in everyday life, such as quieter, cleaner turbine engines.

"It's also our goal to transfer the technology as best we can whenever it can help make the economy stronger," he said.

Earls said he plans a technology conference in Cleveland this spring.