Cernan: Pres. Unwilling to Invest in U.S. Future

HOUSTON - Gene Cernan, the last man on the moon, says it is critical to go back to the moon for America's future. He is speaking out against President Obama's decision to eliminate the NASA program that would take the U.S. astronauts back to the moon.

What has been cut out of NASA's budget by the White House is the Constellation program that would first give the U.S. transportation to and from the International Space Station, then take astronauts to the moon, and then to Mars. The program has already cost $9 billion, and NASA had requested an additional $3 billion each year for the next five years to continue it.

But the White House says that is old technology and the U.S. has already been to the moon.

Instead, the President's budget proposes using the $4 billion currently spent on human space exploration, to be used for research and development on new technologies, and development of space technology in the private sector.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden says he understands President Obama's decision.

"When you have a program that's going to cost a fortune to resurrect, and schedules are getting harder to make without much more money, you pick a new course," said Bolden at a National Press Club gathering in Washington, DC on Tuesday morning.

But former astronaut Cernan says cutting the Constellation program will relegate the U.S. to being second in the world of space exploration. With the retirement of the space shuttle in 2010, the U.S. would have to rely on Russia to take American astronauts to and from "our own space station," said Cernan.

The Constellation program followed logical steps that would break new ground by sending the U.S. to Mars, added Cernan. He also said he believes that taking away the dream of human space exploration will have a negative impact on education.

"We have a responsibility in our country to inspire our kids to do bigger and better and greater things," said Cernan in an interview with FOX 26 News on Tuesday morning.

"If someone can find something beyond going to the moon, which turns kids on, I'm all for it. But to this day, I haven't found it yet."

Cernan said he also feels that President Obama is ignoring all the jobs that will be lost, and now will never be created by cutting human exploration into space. He points out that the President is proposing a $100 billion jobs bill, but wants to cut a current job-creating program that costs just $3 billion.

"I'm angry. It's very short sighted on the part of this administration," said Cernan. "He is somehow unwilling to invest in the future of this country and the future of this country is important to me. I won't be here 20, 30, 40 years from now, but my grandkids will. I want them to have the country I had. I want something better for them."

Cernan said he hopes Congress will reject this part of the President's budget, but ultimately he says it is up to the American public what they want to invest in. He thinks they should let their voices be heard.