In May 2009, Frank De Winne, of Belgian nationality and a member of the European Astronaut Corps, will fly to the International Space Station at the start of his six-month mission. This mission sees him become the first European commander of the Station by October 2009. ESA has now given his mission the name OasISS.

During his stay on the International Space Station (ISS), De Winne will conduct scientific experiments developed by scientists from different European countries and others worldwide. In addition he will perform technology demonstrations and an education program. De Winne will also be instrumental in operating the Station's robotic arm and that of the Kibo module, to help install the external payloads for the Japanese laboratory. OasISS, the second European long-term mission to the ISS, will enlarge the crew of the ISS to six astronauts for the first time and, thereby, increase the time available for scientific experiments. The name was selected by ESA from 520 suggestions received in response to a competition launched by ESA’s Directorate of Human Spaceflight last September. The winning mission name, OasISS, was proposed by Jan Puylaert from Ghent, in Belgium.

(Photo: ESA astronaut Frank De Winne (right) trains together with Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko (centre) and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk (left) in the Soyuz simulator at Star City, near Moscow. They are set for launch to the International Space Station in May 2009 where they will join the Expedition 20 crew, increasing the number of permanent ISS residents from three to six for the first time. De Winne will remain on board the ISS for six months. Credits: ESA)