Frank De Winne is a former Belgian Air Force officer and former astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA). He received a master in engineering at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, where he graduated with distinction. He then completed pilot training and began his career in the Belgian Air Force in 1986, flying Mirage fighter jets.

Over the years, De Winne qualified as a test pilot and participated in various international programs focused on aircraft systems and flight development. He accumulated extensive flight experience on multiple aircraft types and earned recognition for his outstanding piloting skills. He also was the Commander of Belgian / Dutch Deployable Air Task Force during operation Allied Force in the Kosovo crisis.

In 1998, he was selected as an ESA astronaut and officially joined the European Astronaut Corps in 2000. Following intensive training, including preparation in Star City in Russia, he flew his first mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2002, where he conducted a wide range of scientific experiments.

His second space mission in 2009 marked a major milestone, as he became the first European to serve as Commander of the ISS. In this role, he was responsible for crew coordination, station safety, and overseeing scientific operations.

Beyond his space missions, De Winne has been actively involved in science, education, and international cooperation, including serving as a guest professor and UNICEF ambassador. He has received numerous national and international awards, as well as several honorary doctorates.

After completing his active astronaut career, he took on various leadership and management roles within ESA, contributing to the development and coordination of European human spaceflight activities. De Winne is currently the Low Earth Orbit Service Team Leader as well as ESA’s ISS Programme Manager and the Terrae Novae Programme Manager.