NAME: Dirk D. Frimout

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Frimout was born on March 21, 1941 in Poperinge, Belgium.

EDUCATION: Diploma as electronics engineer, 1963. Doctorate in applied physics, 1970 from the University of Ghent. Post-doctorate work at the Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics, Colorado, 1972. EXPERIENCE: Frimout worked at the Institute of Space Aeronomy of Belgium until 1978. He became an astronaut candidate in 1977. Frimout was selected in 1989 for Shuttle Flight STS-45 (the ATLAS-1 mission). Fifteen years later, he was the first Belgian in space, on board the Atlantis shuttle on March 24, 1992. was responsible for the European scientific experiments carried out on board Atlantis. This ATLAS-1 mission of earth observation was completed on April 2. Frimout was also the Alternate Payload Specialist to STS-61K, Mission EOM-1/2.

Dirk Frimout carried out his dream, to fly and float in space. His exploits raised the enthusiasm of all Belgians. He was made a Grand Officier de l'Ordre de L�opold and also received the title of Viscount. Frimout returned to Belgium and directed a team of researchers in the field of telephony at Belgacom.

• STS-61-K - - 1986 October - Assignment: Proposed Backup Crew.

  Planned EOM-1 shuttle mission. Cancelled after Challenger disaster. No crew named, later combined with STS-61K

• STS-45 - - 1992 Mar 24 - Assignment: Prime Crew. Flight Time: 8.92 days. Flight details: STS-45.

  Manned seven crew. Carried ATLAS-1 experimental package. Payloads: Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS)-1, Shuttle Solar Backscat-ter Ultraviolet (SSBUV)-4, Getaway Special Experiment G-229, Space Tissue Loss (STL)-1, Radiation Monitoring Equipment (RME)-lIl, Visual Function Tester (VFT)-lI, Cloud Logic To Opti-mize Use of Defense Systems (CLOUDS)-1A, Investigations Into Polymer Membrane Process-ing (IPMP), Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX)-Il, Ultraviolet Plume Instrument (UVPl).