posted 12-09-2013 12:14 PM               

Connor Johnson has wanted to be an astronaut since he was three. When he learned that congress was threatening his future prospects to be a scientist or astronaut with NASA by cutting NASA's funding, he decided to do something about it.

"My whole idea was writing off to the President and then I decided to give my whole piggy bank to NASA. I have about $10.41," Johnson said.

However, after talking to his family members about the issue, Johnson decided he needed to find a more effective way to reach NASA.

His family helped him start a petition. Although he did have some guidance, Johnson constructed the petition ideas on his own.

posted 12-12-2013 08:26 AM               

"I am an astronaut. This is Gene Cernan calling. I'm the last person to have walked on the moon," Cernan told Connor.

Connor's eyes lit up and he had a huge smile on his face while a living legend spoke with him about dreams coming true and never giving up.

Cernan said he sees so much of Connor in himself. Cernan says he was once that little boy who dared to dream of becoming an astronaut. Despite the uncertain times NASA finds itself in, he wants to encourage Connor to never give up on his vision.

"There's two things you have to do to go to the moon. You've got to dream about things that a lot of other people think you can't do," Cernan said.

Cernan and his generation proved that you can reach the moon. Now, he says, it's up to Connor and his generation to take us beyond that.

posted 12-12-2013 03:17 PM               

Seriously, a strong demonstration of VAST public support for the program, communicated to lawmakers, is really the thing that'll work, if anything will. I know a internet petition is an easy thing to click, but anyone who knows anything about government at the DC level will snicker at the idea that an internet petition could accomplish much. Yeah, the White House ones have a response if they exceed an amount. That only means some staff-level flunkie has to write up a response. I know, because a good friend of mine is one of those flunkies.

posted 12-12-2013 03:46 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by p51:
...but anyone who knows anything about government at the DC level will snicker at the idea that an internet petition could accomplish much.

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Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of faith in Connor's efforts being the rallying call for change, but not because petitions don't work. Were the political landscape different, I think his simple message could find resonance in Washington. But his effort comes at a time when there is very little support, if not also the basic ability to agree on increasing funding for anything, let alone the space program.

posted 12-15-2013 10:05 AM               

The more we talk about space and the more we share with our friends outside of the space enthusiast community the more support we can generate for it.

posted 03-15-2014 08:04 PM               

6-Year-Old Boy Visits Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex to Continue Fulfilling His ‘Mission’ of Saving NASA, Becoming an Astronaut

Dreams do come true. Six-year old Connor Johnson, Denver, Colo., met with astronauts, trained like an astronaut, saw space vehicles and explored the future of space exploration at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex this weekend (March 14-15).

In December 2013, Connor launched an online petition to save NASA's funding from budget cuts. Since the age of three, he has dreamed of becoming an astronaut to discover new worlds and asteroids.

Connor continued his dream of becoming an astronaut as a guest of the Visitor Complex. He and his family made their first visit to the space center to explore the hands-on activities and robot demonstrations at the Robot Rocket Rally, see the new Space Shuttle AtlantisSM, enjoy Lunch With An Astronaut, featuring space shuttle astronaut Sam Durrance and encounter the Astronaut Training Experience, with space shuttle astronaut Mike McCulley.

Robot Rocket Rally is being held to celebrate NASA's robotic marvels, including the engineering model of Robonaut's legs that will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS) on an upcoming mission.

NASA Kennedy Space Center Director and astronaut Robert Cabana presented a bolt from the ISS and mission patch to inspire the youngster during a ceremony held at the Rocket Garden.