Dirk Frimout

About

European Space Agency astrophysicist and the first Belgian citizen to travel to space. He flew on NASA's 1992 STS-45 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Before Fame

He studied engineering and physics at the University of Ghent. He later performed experiments for the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy.

Trivia

He was a payload specialist on a Space Shuttle mission in 1992. His sole space flight made him an instant celebrity in Belgium.

Family Life

He married and had two children.

Associated With

Like United States citizen Alan Shepard, Frimout was the first person from his country to go into space.