Archive | Event Highlights 2019 – 2017

2019/12/18

© ESA/S. Corvaja

CHEOPS Space Telescope successfully launched

There was great relief when the Soyuz-Fregat rocket carrying CHEOPS lifted off shortly before 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2019. Spectators at the University of Bern watched the ESA livestream from Kourou, French Guiana, with loud applause.

2019/12/17

© University of Bern, Image: Vera Knöpfel

Exciting Space Talks despite postponed rocket launch

This morning, the CHEOPS satellite was supposed to begin its journey into space. Just under an hour and a half before lift-off, the launch system was halted. Despite this, the event was celebrated at a well-attended gathering, with short presentations providing insights into current exoplanet research. “uniaktuell” shares impressions from the event.

2019/12/11

© ESA/M. Pédoussaut

Invitation to the CHEOPS Launch Event at the University of Bern

The CHEOPS space telescope is scheduled to begin its journey into space on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, aboard a Soyuz rocket from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. The University of Bern invites you to the CHEOPS launch event with a live stream from Kourou and space talks.

2019/07/01

© University of Bern, Image: Ramon Lehmann

"All our expectations were exceeded"

It was a science festival for everyone: “Bern in Space” was very well received by the public. Events took place on the Bundesplatz, in the Kursaal, and at the University of Bern in midsummer temperatures. And the major space agencies joined in the celebrations.

2019/06/28

© University of Bern

Press Conference "Bern in Space"

The press conference featured speakers Christian Leumann (Rector University of Bern), Christoph Pappa (Overall Project Manager, Secretary General University of Bern), Willy Benz (Director NCCR PlanetS, University of Bern), Thomas Zurbuchen (Scientific Director at NASA), Günther Hasinger (Scientific Director at ESA), and Pascale Ehrenfreud (Chair of the Executive Board of DLR).

2019/06/25

© University of Bern, Image: Vera Knöpfel

Bern in Space: The rocket is ready for launch

Lift-off for the Bern in Space science festival: the rocket cube on Bundesplatz is ready and will be inaugurated on Friday, June 28, at 5:30 p.m. to mark the start of the anniversary celebrations. For three days, Bern will be celebrating the moon landing and Bernese space research – and high-profile representatives from space agencies, science, and politics will be joining in the celebrations.

2019/06/24

© University of Bern, Image: Ramon Lehmann

Bronze sculpture for Johannes Geiss unveiled

To mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, a bronze solar wind sail was unveiled yesterday at the University of Bern in honor of Johannes Geiss. Under Geiss's leadership, the University of Bern developed the famous solar wind sail, which was used in the first moon landing in 1969 and laid the foundation for the international success of Bernese space research. Astronaut Charles “Charlie” Duke was also present at the ceremony.

2019/05/02

© University of Bern, Image: Ramon Lehmann

The University of Bern travels through space at the BEA

What comes from Bern and has been to the moon? The solar wind sail from the University of Bern, of course! Anyone who doesn't know about the sail yet will soon find out. This summer, the University of Bern is celebrating 50 years since the moon landing – and at the heart of the celebrations is the Bernese experiment that flew to the moon with Apollo 11 in 1969. To kick off the celebrations, the University of Bern is currently a guest at the BEA.

2018/12/20

© University of Bern, Image: Ramon Lehmann

NASA Science Director visits the University of Bern

Yesterday, Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA Science Director, visited the University of Bern. He was awarded the 2018 Greinacher Prize by the Heinrich Greinacher Foundation. “uniaktuell” shows impressions from the event.

2018/11/23

Two young girls at TecDay
© University of Bern, Image: Sylviane Blum

Making Comets with the CSH

Getting young people excited about technology and science – that was the goal of TecDay at the Kantonsschule Frauenfeld. The Center for Space and Habitability CSH at the University of Bern was also there, and even made comets with the high school students.

2018/10/25

© Nicolas Thomas

Rum, heat, and a rocket launch

BepiColombo blasted off to investigate Mercury. Nicolas Thomas, Co-Principal Investigator of the instrument BELA and Director of the Physics Institute of the University of Bern, experienced the launch first hand. Here are his impressions.

2018/08/27

CHEOPS Swiss event
© University of Bern, Image: Adrian Moser

Bern's CHEOPS is flying into space soon

Bern's CHEOPS space telescope was recently assembled on its carrier platform in Spain. The finished satellite was now for tests in Switzerland. Swiss Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann unveiled two plaques with 2,748 children's drawings on the research satellite today in an official ceremony.

2018/05/31

© University of Bern, Image: Manu Friederich

Key Handover at the Zimmerwald Observatory

With two new domes and a renovated dome, the Zimmerwald Observatory now has a total of six fully automated telescopes for monitoring the sky – in particular for detecting and cataloging space debris. At the official inauguration ceremony of the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB), congratulations were even received from NASA Science Director Thomas Zurbuchen. On Saturday, June 2, 2018, the doors and domes in Zimmerwald will be open to everyone for an open house.

2017/01/31

© University of Bern, Image: Manu Friederich

"The University of Bern has given me a lot"

As a research director of NASA, Bern-based Thomas Zurbuchen is one of the world’s most influential scientists. On Friday January 27, he visited the University of Bern, where he studied and gained his PhD in physics. He talked about his work in a public lecture.