Buzz Aldrin Done on 'Dancing With the Stars' but Proud to Have Inspired People

April 7, 2010— -- Buzz Aldrin bid farewell to "Dancing With the Stars" Tuesday night, but the astronaut said he was proud of his performance.

"I'm very proud to have had the opportunity to inspire a number of us who are trying to keep very active," Aldrin said on "Good Morning America" today.

Aldrin and his professional partner, Ashley Costa, had the lowest score from the judges this week, earning 13 points out of a possible 30. But the fan favorite wowed the crowd with his performance and his elimination was met with groans.

Kate Gosselin escaped elimination for the second week in a row, despite turning in a performance that earned 15 points and that judge Carrie Ann Inaba called "odd" and "hard to watch."

Aldrin said he hoped his appearance on the show would bring attention to the space program.

"I'm really looking forward to making some major contributions to the administration's policy that will be carried out by the Congress for the benefit of all those who have worked so hard for so many years" on the space program," said Aldrin, who piloted the first manned lunar landing. "The airspace industry defends our country.

"I did this show for the fighter pilots out there, the military people and the elder geezers like me who would just like to see an elder come back week after week," Aldrin said on the show.

Judge Bruno Tonioli said that Aldrin's waltz to "What a Wonderful World" was "regal," but Carrie Inaba didn't think his dancing improved this week and Len Goodman said "the technique was poor. As much as I like you and thought the dance was charming, it wasn't a great dance."

Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek and partner Anna Trebunskaya led the way this week, with a score of 26 points. Also at the head of the pack were Erin Andrews and Nicole Scherzinger.

Shannen Doherty was the first star sent home from the 10th season of "Dancing With the Stars." The actress' father recently had a stroke, and, she said, "I did do this for him.

"My dad doesn't have his speech 100 percent back yet, but the first words he learned were 'I love you,'" Doherty said on "Good Morning America." "He was crying, and he said, 'I love you and I'm proud of you.'"