Posted at 1:27 a.m., Friday, January 26, 2007
Hawai'i astronaut who died on Challenger remembered
Advertiser Staff
NASA astronaut Donald A. Thomas will make several appearances in on the Big Island and O'ahu today through Wednesday for events honoring fallen Challenger astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, a Hawai'i native.Onizuka was born in Kealakekua. He died along with five other astronauts and school teacher Christa McAuliffe when the Challenger exploded 73 seconds into flight on Jan. 28, 1986.
Sunday is the 21st anniversary of the Challenger accident. Onizuka was a mission specialist aboard space shuttle Challenger for the STS 51-L mission.
Thomas was selected by NASA in January 1990 and is a veteran of four spaceflights. He has logged more than 1,040 hours in space. He was a mission specialist on STS-65 in 1994, STS-70 in 1995 and STS-83 and STS-94 in 1997. Most recently, Thomas served as the chief scientist for the International Space Station.
Thomas' schedule of appearances:
Today: 9 a.m., Hilo High School
Tomorrow: 8:30 a.m., 2007 Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Science Day, University of Hawaii at Hilo (community welcome)
Sunday: 9 a.m.: Challenger Anniversary Remembrance, Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, Keahole-Kona International Airport
Monday: 9:30 a.m., Kealakehe High School
Tuesday: 9:30 a.m., Konawaena High School; Noon, Kona Mauka Rotary Club, Teshima's Restaurant
Wednesday: 8:30 a.m., Challenger Center, Kapolei, Community welcome), 10:45 a.m., Pearl City Elementary School
