6-Year-Old's Touching Attempt to Save NASA

For half of his life, Connor Johnson has wanted to be an astronaut.

That's why when the 6-year-old from Denver learned his career path might be in jeopardy due to NASA budget cuts, he took action.

"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," he told KUSA-TV.

Connor Johnson has wanted to be an astronaut since he was 3 years old, or half of his life. After learning budget cuts to NASA might hamper his dream, he donated his piggy bank to the cause and started an online petition. (Image source: KUSA-TV)

While the entire contents of a 6-year-old's piggy bank might be a big deal for someone his age, Johnson took his efforts a step further as well, starting a petition on the White House's online petition forum "We the People."

"Increase the funding for NASA so that children can dream of exploring the universe. Science funding is the future of our country," reads Johnson's petition, which had his own ideas but was created with the help of his family.

Connor Johnson understands he has a long way to go before getting the number of signatures he needs to earn a response for his petition. (Image source: KUSA-TV)

Why does Johnson want to be an astronaut?

"The whole reason I want to be an astronaut [is so] I can discover, like, new worlds," Johnson told KUSA. "To discover asteroids or stuff that I could build stuff out of."

Watch KUSA's report about the industrious 6-year-old:

Although the petition still needs more than 90,000 signatures before earning an official White House response, it has at least gotten the attention of the media as the story of the budding astronaut has started to go viral.

"NASA, if you're watching, thank you," Johnson said in the report.

(H/T: WKMG-TV)

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