James P. Bagian
James P. Bagian (born February 22, 1952) is an American physician and engineer who also flew as a NASA astronaut. Of Armenian descent, he spent about 337 hours in space over two missions: STS-29 in 1989 and STS-40 in 1991. After leaving NASA in 1995, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. He later became the Director of the Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety at the University of Michigan.
Education and early career
Bagian grew up in Philadelphia and finished Central High School in 1969. He earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in 1973, graduating first in his class, and a Doctor of Medicine from Thomas Jefferson University in 1977. He worked as a process engineer at 3M in 1973 and as a mechanical engineer at the U.S. Naval Air Test Center from 1976 to 1978 while pursuing his medical degree. After medical school, he completed surgical training and then became a flight surgeon at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in 1978, while also studying at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, where he graduated at the top of his class. He later earned Professional Engineer certification (1986) and became board-certified in aerospace medicine (1987).
NASA career and space flights
Bagian helped plan and provide medical and rescue support for early Shuttle flights. He participated in the 51-L investigation after the 1986 disaster and helped develop the pressure suit and other survival equipment for future missions. He became a NASA astronaut in July 1980.
His first spaceflight was STS-29 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in March 1989. The mission deployed a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite and carried out several experiments, including studies of cerebral blood flow and Space Adaptation Syndrome. He logged about 119 hours in space on this mission.
Bagian’s second spaceflight was STS-40, the first Space Shuttle Spacelab Life Sciences mission, in June 1991. Over nine days, the crew studied how the heart, blood vessels, lungs, kidneys, and hormones respond to microgravity, as well as muscle and bone changes in space. Bagian also helped repair malfunctioning hardware to ensure all science objectives were met, and he spent about 218 hours in space on this mission. A light moment: he performed the first magic trick in space, coordinating with Mission Control to make a card trick appear on television.
Later years and current work
Bagian left NASA in 1995. He has been honored by his election to the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine. He served as Chief Patient Safety Officer for the Veterans Health Administration and directed the VA National Center for Patient Safety, helping to develop tools and programs that are used nationwide. He is the founding director of the VA National Center for Patient Safety and has continued to work on patient safety and healthcare technology.
Today he is the Director of the Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety at the University of Michigan, with faculty appointments in the Department of Anesthesia and the College of Engineering. He is also a colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, a pararescue flight surgeon for the 939th Air Rescue Wing, a qualified freefall parachutist, and a licensed private pilot with extensive flight experience. Bagian has remained active in rescue, safety, and aerospace medicine, and he participated in the 2022 Starmus Festival in Yerevan, Armenia. He remains the only person of Armenian descent to fly in space.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:53 (CET).