NASA Astronaut
1945
Jim Buchli is a NASA astronaut and the first North Dakotan to fly in space. He is a veteran of four space flights and orbited the Earth 319 times, traveled 7.74 million miles and spent more than 20 days in space.
Buchli began his career as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps upon his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1967, followed by a master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering Systems from the University of West Florida. As a Marine Corps infantry officer, Buchli served with valor during the Vietnam War, earned numerous decorations and logged over 4,200 flight hours in 17 aircraft types.
Buchli was selected to become a NASA astronaut in 1978 after completion of the Navy Test Pilot School. He brought his extensive military experience to the space program, becoming one of the first astronauts specifically chosen for the space shuttle era. His missions included high-profile and challenging flights such as STS-51C, the first Department of Defense mission, and STS-61A, a joint venture with West Germany that featured the largest crew at that time and the first international payload operations. His career was marked by important scientific experiments and satellite deployments, such as the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite during STS-48.
Following his active flight career, Buchli continued to serve as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut Office, where he played a key role in astronaut training and operations.
Buchli has been a strong supporter of the University of North Dakota’s Space Studies program, and his contributions have inspired countless students in aerospace and STEM-related fields.
In 2019, Buchli was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as one of the foremost figures in American space history.
Presented: July 30, 2024
Portrait Painted By: Vern Skaug