Among the ancestors of the American astronauts Eugene A. Cernan and John E. Blaha are those of Czech and Slovak origin. Even both the surnames are Slovak and Czech respectively.

Eugene Andrew CERNAN was born in Bellwood (Chicago), Illinois. His greatparents Stefan and Anna Cernan were from Vysoka nad Kysucou (Slovakia), Frantisek and Rozalie Cihlar from Bernartice near Tabor and Nuzice near Bechyne (South Bohemia).

John Elmer BLAHA was born in San Antonio (Texas). His grandfather Antonin Blaha was from Heralec (near Humpolec town), Bohemia.

Both the astronauts have visited the Czech Republic several times. Detailed information regarding their space missions and their recent visit available on the following webpages (in Czech and Slovak but comprising some pictures):

1.
http://hisec.astro.cz/astronom/cernan_eugen.htm

2.
http://zpravy.idnes.cz/vedatech.asp?r=vedatech&c=A011026_221322_vedatech_pol

3.
http://www.kav.cas.cz/press/stranky/archiv/ab/2001/12/astronau.htm

4.
http://www.mu.letohrad.cz/zpravodaj/42001/sklola.htm

5.
http://www.bernartice.cz/reg_osob_cernan.htm

6.
http://www.telecom.gov.sk/znamky/2002/02280.html

7.
http://www.telecom.gov.sk/znamky/2002/02280e.html

8.
http://www.mod.gov.sk/e-ziny/obrana/content.asp?mag_id=95&cat_id=2&art_id=0

9.
http://www.defense.gov.sk/obrazom/index.asp?ID=138&DALSI=1

10.
http://www.quark-e.sk/novy2002/2002/11_2002/pralesy.htm

11.
http://www.vira.cz/knihovna/index3.php?sel_kap=188&sel_kniha=46

12.
http://www.lib.cas.cz/knav/space.40/ASTRON/USA/CERN-EA.HTM