ESA astronaut Frank De Winne

ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, from Belgium. A senior test pilot in the Belgian Air Force, Franck De Winne has logged more than 2,300 hours flying time on several types of high-performance aircraft including Mirage, F16, Jaguar and Tornado, before joining ESA's Astronaut Corps at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany, in January 2000. On behalf of ESA's Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity, he provided technical support for the X38/CRV project. In August 2001, he began basic training for missions to the International Space Station (ISS) and Soyuz flight engineer. From October 30 to November 10, 2002, Franck De Winne participated in the Odissea mission to the ISS. This flight was sponsored by the Belgian Federal Office for Scientific, Technical and Cultural Affairs (OSTC), carried out successfully a programme of 23 experiments in the fields of life and physical sciences and education, including experiments in an important new research facility designed and developed in Europe, the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG). Following this mission De Winne is supporting the implementation of the White Paper on Space Policy with the European Commission and preparatory activities for the Soyuz at CSG (Guiana Space Centre) project.