All Astronauts
ELITERetiredESA
ELITERetiredESAESA·🇧🇪 Belgium·Born 1961
Frank De Winne
First ESA astronaut to command the ISS (Expedition 21).
183d
Days in Space
2
Missions
0
EVAs
—
EVA Time
You have to believe in achieving your dreams.
Students of today are the scientists and researchers of tomorrow.
What they aspire to
He aspires to strengthen European human spaceflight and prepare astronauts for missions to the Moon.
Biography
First ESA astronaut to command the ISS (Expedition 21). Spent over 6 months aboard the station on his second mission.
Before NASABelgian Air Component fighter pilot and test pilot who flew the Mirage 5 and F-16 and commanded a NATO air task force during Operation Allied Force.
Notable Missions
Soyuz TMA-1 (Odissea)Soyuz TMA-15 / Expedition 20/21
Beyond the Mission
Hobbies & Interests
footballcomputinggastronomy
Causes They Champion
European astronaut trainingSTEM education
Languages
DutchFrenchEnglishRussianGerman
Awards & Honors
- Viscount of Belgium (title)
- Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal
- Russian Medal for Merit in Space Exploration
Fun fact
On Expedition 21 in 2009 he became the first ESA astronaut to command the International Space Station.
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