Frank, Viscount De Winne (born 25 April 1961, in Ledeberg, Belgium) is a Belgian Air Component officer and an ESA astronaut.

From January 1994 until April 1995, he was responsible for flight safety of the 1st Fighter Wing operating from Beauvechain air base.

[2] On 12 February 1997 De Winne encountered engine problems while flying in an F-16 Fighting Falcon over densely populated area near Leeuwarden.

After the onboard computer failed, De Winne was faced with the choice of crashing in the IJsselmeer or of ejecting over densely populated area.

He provided technical support for the X38 Crew Return Vehicle project division within the Directorate of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity, located at the European Space Research and Technology Centre in Noordwijk, the Netherlands.

During his time in space, De Winne carried out successfully a programme of 23 experiments in the fields of life and physical sciences and education.

On 20 September 2007 ESA announced that De Winne would take part in a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station in 2009.

[9] This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.