Frank De Winne

Frank De Winne
Name	Frank De Winne
Caption	De Winne in an European Space Agency flight suit.
Type	ESA Astronaut
Nationality	Belgian
Status	Retired
Birth date	25 April 1961
Birth place	Ghent, Belgium
Occupation	Test pilot, Engineer
Rank	Brigadier general (Belgian Air Component)
Selection	1998 ESA Group
Time	198d 17h 34m
Mission	Soyuz TMA-1, Soyuz TMA-15, Expedition 20, Expedition 21
Insignia	50px 50px

Frank De Winne is a retired Belgian Air Component officer, test pilot, and European Space Agency astronaut. He became the first European to command a long-duration mission aboard the International Space Station during the landmark OasISS mission. His career bridges significant milestones in both European human spaceflight and international cooperation in low Earth orbit.

Early life and education

Born in Ghent, De Winne developed an early interest in aviation and technology. He pursued a rigorous academic path, graduating from the Royal Military Academy (Belgium) in 1984 with a degree in Polytechnic engineering, specializing in aeronautics. He furthered his education at the Empire Test Pilots' School in the United Kingdom, earning the prestigious Westland Trophy for best student test pilot in his class. This foundational training at renowned institutions prepared him for a demanding career in both military aviation and space exploration.

Military career

De Winne's military service was distinguished and focused on advanced aviation roles. Commissioned into the Belgian Air Force, he flew the Mirage 5 and later transitioned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon as a fighter pilot. His exceptional skills led him to be selected for the United States Air Force's F-16 Fighter Weapons Instructor Course at Nellis Air Force Base. He later served as a test pilot at the Centre d'Essais en Vol in France and eventually rose to command the Belgian Air Component's Test and Evaluation squadron, achieving the rank of Brigadier general.

ESA career and spaceflight experience

Selected as an astronaut by the European Space Agency in 1998, De Winne began his spaceflight career with his first mission, Odissea, in 2002. He launched aboard the Soyuz TMA-1 spacecraft to the International Space Station, serving as a flight engineer during an eight-day taxi flight that coincided with Expedition 5. This mission, involving the Russian Federal Space Agency, provided him with crucial early experience in Soyuz (spacecraft) operations and ISS systems, solidifying his role within the ESA Astronaut Corps.

OasISS mission and ISS command

De Winne's second and most historic flight was the OasISS mission in 2009. He launched as part of the Soyuz TMA-15 crew, serving as a flight engineer for Expedition 20. Upon the departure of the Expedition 20 commander, Gennady Padalka, De Winne assumed command of Expedition 21, becoming the first astronaut from ESA and the first non-NASA or non-Roscosmos astronaut to command the orbiting laboratory. His six-month tenure oversaw a significant expansion of the station's scientific capabilities with the arrival of the Japanese Experiment Module's exposed facility and numerous experiments.

Post-flight career and roles

Following his spaceflight career, De Winne took on several key leadership positions within the European space sector. He served as the Head of the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, overseeing astronaut training and coordination. He later became the Director of International Space Station Programmes for ESA, playing a pivotal role in managing Europe's contributions, including the Columbus laboratory, and negotiating the future of post-Space Shuttle cooperation with partners like NASA and Roscosmos. He retired from ESA in 2022.

Personal life

Married and a father of three, De Winne maintains a private life while occasionally participating in public outreach for science and engineering. His achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the title of Commander of the Order of Leopold and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal. He is also a recipient of the Russian Federation's Medal "For Merit in Space Exploration" for his contributions to international spaceflight.

Category:Belgian astronauts Category:European Space Agency astronauts Category:International Space Station personnel Category:Belgian Air Component officers Category:Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal