Los Angeles, California - Shuttle Challenger Astronaut Memorial

My wife and I visited this memorial on a vacation. Be careful when driving because you could miss it if you aren't looking in the right direction. It's tucked away in small shopping area, so you have to park and walk around a building to see it. The memorial is very tasteful and has a few plaques on the base with information on the Space Shuttle Challenger and about Astronaut Onizuka. [Sean, 08/20/2009]

Monument remembers space shuttle astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, who died with the rest of the NASA shuttle crew when the Challenger exploded on January 28, 1986. Onizuka was the first Japanese American astronaut in space. The replica was created in 1990, by Isao Hirai. It stands over 18 ft. tall, a 1/10th scale model on a seven ft. pedestal.

The Japanese American community in Los Angeles campaigned to rename Weller St as Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Street. Little Tokyo merchants raised money for the statue. [Jeff Chin, 11/21/2005]