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Bio of Astronaut Ellison Onizuka
1946-1986
Hawaii-born NASA astronaut Ellison Shoji Onizuka died
when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded
shortly after taking off from the Kennedy Space Center
in Florida on January 28, 1986 at 11:40 a.m.
The Challenger mission was Onizuka's second flight
into space. His first flight was a year earlier
on the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Photo Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Quick Facts About Ellison Onizuka
Full Name: Ellison Shoji Onizuka
Birth Date: June 24, 1946
Birth Place: Kealakekua, Hawaii Island
Siblings: Shirley, Norma, and Claude
Married wife Lorna Leiko Yoshida on June 7, 1969
Children: Two daughters, Janelle and Darien
Hobbies: Running, hunting, fishing
Died: January 28, 1986 at age 39
Ellison Onizuka was laid to rest at the National
Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
Education of Ellison Onizuka
Graduated from Konawaena High School in Kealakekua, Hawaii, in 1964
Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering in June of 1969
from the University of Colorado
Master's degree in Aerospace Engineering in December of 1969
from the University of Colorado
Pre-NASA Military Career
Four year ROTC program at the University of Colorado
Entered the U.S. Air Force in January of 1970
Aerospace flight test engineer at the Sacramento Air
Logistics Center at McClellan Air Force Base in California.
Attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School August 1974 to July 1975.
In July 1975, he was assigned to teach at the Air Force Flight Test
Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California
He has logged more than 1,700 hours flying time.
Left the Air Force in 1978 when he began training as an astronaut
Early NASA Career of Ellison Onizuka
Selected by NASA for astronaut training in January of 1978
Finished one year training and evaluation period in August of 1979
Worked on orbiter test and checkout teams and launch
support crews at the Kennedy Space Center for STS-1 and STS-2
Space Flights of Ellison Onizuka
Ellison Onizuka's 1st Space Flight: Discovery STS 51-C
Photos of Ellison Onizuka's First Space Flight
Ellison Onizuka's 2nd Space Flight: Challenger STS 51-L
Memorials to Astronaut Ellison Onizuka
Information about organizations, facilities, streets, awards,
and other entities named in honor of Hawaii-born Astronaut
Ellison Onizuka. Also includes Ellison Onizuka memorials in
Hawaii, California, Texas, and Colorado.
Memberships of Ellison Onizuka
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Society of Flight Test Engineers
Air Force Association
Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Tau
Triangle Fraternity
Honors and Awards
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
National Defense Service Medal
Bios and Articles About Ellison Onizuka
Official NASA Bio of Ellison Onizuka
Hawaii Remembers Onizuka on Challenger Anniversary
Time Magazine Tribute to Ellison Onizuka
SpaceShuttleMemorial.com - Ellison Onizuka
University of Colorado - Alumnus Ellison Onizuka
Astronaut Memorial Foundation - Ellison Onizuka
Wikipedia on Ellison Onizuka
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