Onizuka received a Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering in June 1969, and a Master's in that field in December of the same year, from the University of Colorado. He then entered active duty with the United States Air Force, where he served as a flight test engineer and as a test pilot.
He had been selected for the astronaut program in January 1978, and had previously flown on mission STS-51-C on Space Shuttle Discovery in January 1985, also serving as a mission specialist. He held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the time of his death.
EllisonS. Onizuka (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF) was born June 24, 1946, in Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii.
EllisonS. Onizuka (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF) was a member of the Society of Flight Test Engineers, the Air Force Association, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Tau, and the Triangle Fraternity.
EllisonS. Onizuka (Lieutenant Colonel, USAF) was a mission specialist on Space Shuttle Challenger mission STS 51-L which was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 11:38:00 EST on January 28, 1986.
EllisonS. Onizuka, was the last of the three mission specialists.
Onizuka served on active duty with the Air Force until January 1978 when he was selected as a NASA astronaut.
When Onizuka was selected for the astronaut corps he entered into a one year training program and then became eligible for assignment as a mission specialist on future Space Shuttle flights.
Feeds |
Contact