Happy birthday, ESA astronaut Frank De Winne!

Frank De Winne, born April 25, 1961 in Belgium, has been in space twice and is the second Belgian astronaut after Dirk Frimout.

His first trip into space was aboard Soyuz TMA-1 as Flight Engineer in October 2002 to the International Space Station.  He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-34 in November.

His second trip was aboard Soyuz TMA-15 as Flight Engineer to the ISS in May 2009.  He returned to Earth in December 2009.

He spent over 198 days in space.

Atlantis (STS-45) launched 1992

Seated (L-R): Brian Duffy, Charles Bolden; 

Standing (L-R): Byron Lichtenberg, Michael Foale, David Leestma, Kathryn Sullivan, Dirk Frimout

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-45), launched March 24, 1992, was the 11th flight of Atlantis.  Its crew consisted of Commander Charles Bolden, Pilot Brian Duffy, Mission Specialist Kathryn Sullivan, Mission Specialist David Leestma, Mission Specialist Michael Foale, Payload Specialist Dirk Frimout (first Belgian in space), and Payload Specialist Byron Lichtenberg. 

During the mission, the crew carried out many scientific experiments.  The original mission was extended for a day so the crew could conduct more experiments.

They returned to Earth April 2.

Happy birthday, Belgian astronaut Dirk Frimout!

Dirk Dries David Damiaan, Viscount Frimout, born March 21, 1941 in Poperinge, Belgium, flew into space aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-45) March-April 1992 as a Payload Specialist for the European Space Agency.  He is the first Belgian in space.

His flight made him famous in Belgian and a ticket tape parade was organized for him upon his return.

First Belgian in space, Space Shuttle Atlantis launched 1992

STS-45 Atlantis crew - Seated (L-R): Pilot Brian Duffy, Commander Charles F. Bolden, Jr.

Standing (L-R): Payload Specialist Byron K. Lichtenberg, Mission Specialist Michael Foale, Mission Specialist David C. Leestma, Mission Specialist Kathryn D. Sullivan, Payload Specialist Dirk Frimout

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-45) blasted off March 24, 1992 on its eleventh flight and the 46th for the space shuttle program.  On board was Dirk Dries David Damiaan, Viscount Frimout, born in Poperinge, Belgium, making him the first Belgian astronaut.  Charles Bolden served as Commander of the mission, his third trip into space.  Charles later became the first African-American administrator of NASA.