Posted 5/13/2010 05:41:00 PM by Douglas

Some astronauts aren't as happy as other about Obama's new lack of a plan for space exploration.

Armstrong, who took man's first steps on the moon in 1969, and Cernan, who took the last steps in 1972, told the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation that President Barack Obama's plans to end shuttle flights and shift responsibility for building manned spacecraft to commercial companies was a risky strategy that reflected a predilection for developing commercial spacecraft industry at all costs.

“A plan that was invisible to so many was likely contrived by a very small group in secret who persuaded the president that this was a unique opportunity to put his stamp on a new and innovative program,” Armstrong testified. “I believe the president was poorly advised.”

Come on, Barry, you're going to let some hack like Neil Armstrong tell you about space? What does he know? Meanwhile, back in Houston, Bolden has some kind words for the contractors that do all the heavy lifting at JSC

Our contractor workforce stands to bear the brunt of the adverse impacts that will result from this trajectory change in the road ahead, but we will stand by them and help in every way we can to ease the pain of employees needing to transition to other areas of the aerospace industry or even out of our industry. As I have said to all of you before, I can’t possibly know how you feel right now because I don’t have kids still at home trying to get out of high school or college, but I can empathize with your situation and do all in my power to compassionately help you deal with your personal situations.

I wonder if his phone is going to ring when daddy needs a new pair of shoes? But to further express the softer side of Charley Bolden, he is sympathetic to lip hair:

RNASA Gag - "Mission Mustache" from Miles O'Brien on Vimeo.