Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson is livid over this New York Times report that President Obama will call for an end to NASA moon missions and privatization of future astronaut launches when he unveils his budget plan next week.

Nelson, who as a congressman flew on a 1986 Space Shuttle mission, ripped Obama’s “green-eyeshade-wearing advisors” for pushing the idea and said he will “stand up and fight for NASA, and for the thousands of people who stand to lose their jobs.”

Read his entire statement after the jump….

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President Obama called the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis tonight from the Oval Office. He thanked the seven-member crew for the “wonderful images” they’re sending back and their work to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. The astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth on Friday after launching from Kennedy Space Center on May 11.

The crew told Obama they snapped a picture of Chicago, his hometown, while in orbit. Obama said he needed to get a copy.

“Did you guys see my house?” Obama joked. “I’m trying to figure out if my lawn is getting mowed there. I haven’t been back for a couple months.”

Listen to the call here.