Ellison Onizuka

Ellison S. Onizuka
NASA Astronaut
Nationality	American
Born	(1946-06-24)June 24, 1946 Kealakekua, Hawaii, U.S.
Died	January 28, 1986(1986-01-28) (aged 39) Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S.
Other names	Ellison Shoji Onizuka
Other occupation	Research Engineer
Alma mater	CU-Boulder, B.S. and M.S. 1969
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel, USAF
Time in space	3d 01h 33m
Selection	1978 NASA Group 8
Missions	STS-51-C, STS-51-L
Mission insignia
Awards

Ellison Shoji Onizuka (June 24, 1946 – January 28, 1986) was an American astronaut from Kealakekua, Hawaii, who successfully flew into space with the Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-51-C. He died in the destruction of the Space Shuttle Challenger, on which he was serving as Mission Specialist for mission STS-51-L. He was the first Asian American and the first person of Japanese ancestry to reach space.

Born June 24, 1946, Onizuka was the oldest son and second youngest child of the late Masamitsu and Mitsue Onizuka. He was a Buddhist. He had two older sisters, Shirley and Norma, and a younger brother, Claude, who became the family spokesman after the Challenger disaster. Growing up, Ellison was an active participant in FFA,4-H, and the Boy Scouts of America, where he reached the level of Eagle Scout.

Onizuka graduated from Konawaena High School in 1964. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering in June 1969, and a Master of Science degree in that field in December of the same year, from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He participated in U.S. Air Force ROTC during his time there and is an alumnus of Triangle Fraternity.