Ellison Onizuka

Ellison Onizuka was an American astronaut and U.S. Air Force officer who became a trailblazer in space exploration. Born in Kealakekua, Hawaii, Onizuka graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering in 1969. He earned his commission as a second lieutenant through CU’s Air Force ROTC program and entered active duty in 1970. Onizuka served as an aerospace flight test engineer at McClellan Air Force Base and later attended the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base. In 1978, he was selected as a NASA astronaut from a pool of 8,000 applicants, becoming the first Asian American, first person of Japanese ancestry and first Hawaiian to travel to space. His first mission aboard Space Shuttle Discovery in January 1985 completed 48 Earth orbits over 74 hours. Onizuka carried CU memorabilia—a flag and football—on this historic flight. Tragically, Onizuka perished on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after launch. His legacy endures through memorials at CU Boulder, including the Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial and annual ceremonies honoring fallen astronauts. In 2025, CU Boulder renamed its largest residence hall Onizuka Hall to commemorate his courage, leadership and enduring impact on aerospace history.

Source: CU Boulder Today