Onizuka Air Force Base
Onizuka Air Force Base by Joseph T. Page II, published by Arcadia Publishing in 2019, offers an insightful exploration of a significant yet often overlooked chapter in United States military history. This 128-page book delves into the operations conducted at a facility in Sunnyvale, California, known for its various names, including the “Blue Cube” and Sunnyvale Air Force Station. The narrative highlights the base’s pivotal role in satellite reconnaissance programs and its eventual renaming in honor of Col. Ellison S. Onizuka, the first Asian American astronaut.
Readers will find a detailed account of the base’s operations, which spanned nearly five decades, focusing on its contributions to the National Reconnaissance Office, the US military, and NASA’s space shuttle program. The book sheds light on the strategic importance of the location, particularly its proximity to Lockheed Missiles and Space Company’s facilities. Through this examination, the text provides a comprehensive overview of the historical significance of Onizuka Air Force Base and its impact on military and space exploration efforts until its closure in 2010.
Official synopsis Publisher
For nearly five decades, some of the United States military’s most secretive operations were conducted out of a collection of nondescript buildings at the intersection of State Route 237 and Mathilda Avenue in Sunnyvale, California. The installation was known by a variety of names in its early years: Satellite Test Center, Air Force Satellite Control Facility, the “Blue Cube,” and Sunnyvale Air Force Station. In July 1986, the facility was renamed Onizuka Air Force Base after Col. Ellison S. Onizuka, the first Asian American astronaut, who was killed during the space shuttle Challenger accident. The location was selected due to its proximity to Lockheed Missiles and Space Company’s Sunnyvale facilities and supported early satellite reconnaissance programs such as Corona, Gambit, and Hexagon. As the nation’s nucleus for satellite command and control, workers at Onizuka Air Force Base directed efforts for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), US military, and NASA’s space shuttle program until the closure of the base in 2010.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Onizuka Air Force Base” about?
Who is the author of “Onizuka Air Force Base”?
When was “Onizuka Air Force Base” published?
What is the ISBN for “Onizuka Air Force Base”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
