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Topic: Onizuka Space Center (HI) closing in 2016
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Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-18-2015 08:20 AM
The Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center at the Kona International Airport in Hawaii will close its doors in March 2016, after 24 years of educating the public and children about space exploration, West Hawaii Today reports. "In the next few months, people should go visit if they can," said Rick Asbach, one of the directors of the nonprofit facility. "It would be good if we could get some places in the community to put some of the things on display, rather than putting them in storage and having them sort of melt away."The state Department of Transportation has offered to construct a new building directly across the street from the current location at the Kona International Airport terminal. But after several years of working with the DOT and considering four different sites, the governing board of the space center has decided that the higher costs of operating a much larger building, along with other new costs and responsibilities, are just too much for the facility to absorb. The center will close its doors at the end of March. In its place will be constructed a new gateway to an airport renovation priced at $70 million. ...the center features numerous displays of space shuttle missions, lunar landers, videos from inside the International Space Station, gyroscopes, games and other offerings that teach the principles of space and physics. The center is heavy with memorabilia from Onizuka's own life, and also displays a piece of moon rock and the space suit of Fred Haise, the lunar module pilot on Apollo 13. The last two items are on loan from NASA and will have to be returned, Asbach said. The center's last official event will be an appearance by astronaut Mike Fincke on Jan. 31, 2016. |
Fra Mauro Member Posts: 1587 From: Bethpage, N.Y. Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 12-24-2015 03:54 PM
Very sad news. |
4allmankind Member Posts: 1043 From: Dallas Registered: Jan 2004
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posted 12-24-2015 04:37 PM
I visited once, in 2010. It wasn't planned but I had a truly amazing hour during my layover looking at all the artifacts. And the people working that day were gems too. This is sad news. |
p51 Member Posts: 1642 From: Olympia, WA Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 12-24-2015 04:44 PM
"As memories fade..."Makes you wonder if this is a sign of waning interest in what WAS a huge news item for the 1980s (most people in my generation can tell you where they were when they heard that the Challenger came apart) but has since been faded by other happenings in more recent years. I've never understood why every generation thinks that THE big news event of their era will remain so for all eternity. Sadly, people will slowly lose interest over time, with some notable exceptions (usually wars)... |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-24-2015 05:24 PM
quote: Originally posted by p51: Makes you wonder if this is a sign of waning interest...
From the reporting, it sounds more like the proposed new facility was more than the center could justify budget-wise. NASA has been sending astronauts out for years to take part in the annual Onizuka Science Day held by the center at the local university. That, and other news items over the past few years seemed to indicate the center was active in the community. |
Liembo Member Posts: 583 From: Bothell, WA Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 02-18-2016 10:39 PM
I just visited the museum and was very impressed with it. Great displays, both static and interactive. Many flown items and donated displays. We were there with a visiting group of third graders and they were having a ball with all of the kid-oriented activities. I spoke with Educator Nancy Tashima and she said that the TSA was taking over the building to create a consolidated checking area instead of the two separate ones they have now. The displays will all go in to storage. Most of the interactive/activity items will be donated to area schools and some items will be retained for a touring outreach program. Ellison Onizuka's personal items will find a home as well. They don't have a new museum location secured for the short term. |
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-14-2017 02:06 PM
As ordered by the Governor of the State of Hawaii, Kona International Airport has been renamed the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole, effective Jan. 1, 2017. |