The State - News from July 27, 1986

The Air Force is renaming the Sunnyvale Air Force Station in honor of Lt. Col. Ellison S. Onizuka, who died in the Jan. 28 explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. Air Force Secretary Edward C. Aldridge Jr. said the facility will be renamed during ceremonies to be scheduled later this year. “The Challenger seven exemplified the pioneering spirit that is the foundation of our country’s space effort,” Aldridge said. “Ellison Onizuka was one of those pioneers. As a crew member who had previously flown aboard a space shuttle mission, Ellison was a major contributor to our conquest of space.” The station is home of the Air Force’s Satellite Control Facility, which is responsible for command and control of spacecraft.