Ellison Onizuka

Ellison Shoji Onizuka (June 24, 1946 - January 28, 1986) was an American astronaut from Kealakekua, Kona, Hawai'i who died during the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger, where he was serving as mission specialist on mission STS-51-L.

Legacy

Onizuka Air Force Station in Sunnyvale, California, Onizuka Center for International Astronomy at the Mauna Kea Observatory and the Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center at Kona International Airport in Hawaii are named after him. Also named in his honor in fiction is a shuttle in ', carried aboard USS Enterprise NCC-1701-D.

Related Topics:
Onizuka Air Force Station - Sunnyvale, California - Onizuka Center for International Astronomy - Mauna Kea Observatory - Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center - Kona International Airport - Hawaii - Fiction

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Two astronomical features were also named after him: an asteroid discovered by Edward L. G. Bowell on February 8, 1984, 3355 Onizuka and a 29 km diameter crater on the moon, Onizuka Crater. Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, California also has a street named after him.

Related Topics:
Astronomical - Asteroid - Edward L. G. Bowell - February 8 - 1984 - 3355 Onizuka - Crater - Moon - Onizuka Crater - Little Tokyo - Los Angeles, California

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The main protagonist of the manga Great Teacher Onizuka also bears a similar name - Eikichi Onizuka. It is likely that Eikichi's ability to withstand most degrees of physical injury may have been inspired by Ellison's legacy.

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