Cap Canaveral, Florida -- The U.S. space agency NASA announced Friday it is reorganizing its fiscal 2003 budget to concentrate more money on modernizing the space shuttle and finishing the International Space Station.

The plan has three focuses: Modernizing the four existing space shuttles, financing orbital space planes -- escape pods to be installed on the space station -- and the next generation technology program.

The program will look at eventually replacing the shuttles.

"The administration is preparing a change to its fiscal year 2003 budget to implement a new integrated space transportation plan (ISTP) and ensure the International Space Station is properly financed and better positioned to achieve its scientific research priorities," NASA said in a statement.

In order to complete the two-year-old station NASA is also asking to increase scheduled construction missions.

"Recently completed independent cost estimates and program reviews have determined that the space shuttle flight rate should be increased and steps should be taken to assure NASA's ability to achieve" NASA's pledged contributions to the station, the space agency said.

NASA did not release the new figures, but said it planned to deliver the revised budget to Congress soon.