Center for Space and Habitability (CSH)

Bern in Space

Bern in Space – Mission Highlights

Follow along with the mission highlights of current and future space missions researchers at the University of Bern are involved in. The mission pages will be regularly updated with latest news, mission milestones and related public events.

Current Mission

BepiColombo — Investigating Mercury's Mysteries

2018 – Today

Future Mission

Comet Interceptor — Visiting a pristine comet

2028/2029

Current Mission

JUICE — Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer

2023 – Today

Latest Mission Highlights

Research Highlights

BELA ready to explore Mercury’s surface

The joint ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury has entered its final phase after almost eight years in space. Following the successful separation of the Mercury Transfer Module (MTM) from the two orbiters on 3 September 2026, the mission reached another important milestone on 14 September 2026: the laser of the BELA altimeter was successfully activated for the first time in space. The instrument was built under the leadership of the University of Bern.

UniBE Press Release

Research Highlights

Comet Comera (CoCa) Calibration Campaign Completed!

The team working on CoCa at the University of Bern announced on LinkedIn that they have completed the calibration campaign of the imaging system following several weeks of intense work to ensure the instrument is ready for space.

Research Highlights

Asteroid impact shaped the appearance of Mars’ moon Deimos

An UniBE led research team used high-resolution computer simulations and comparisons with the latest images from the ESA space probe Hera to show that a single asteroid impact shaped the Martian moon Deimos and created its smooth, dusty surface.

UniBE Press Release

Research

CHEOPS Space Mission extended

Following the remarkable scientific achievements of the space telescope CHEOPS, ESA decided to extend the mission once again. CHEOPS, built at UniBE and its science operations center located at UniGE, will continue to operate until end of 2029.

UniBE Press Release

Announcement

Valentin Bickel appointed Guest Investigator for BepiColombo

With the upcoming arrival of BepiColombo at Mercury later this year, ESA selected guest investigators to boost the mission’s scientific output. CSH Fellow Dr. Valentin Bickel will continue his study of Mercury through his GI appointment.

CSH

Research

CHEOPS detects a new planetary "disorder"

First the rocky planets, close to their star, then the gas giants: this is the order in which scientists have conceived of the hierarchy of planets. The discovery of a new planet around the star LHS 1903 by CHEOPS is now challenging this theory.

Center for Space and Habitability (CSH)

Bern in Space – Mission Highlights

Mission Highlights Overview

BepiColombo — Investigating Mercury's Mysteries

Comet Interceptor — Visiting a pristine comet

JUICE — Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer

Latest Mission Highlights

BELA ready to explore Mercury’s surface

Comet Comera (CoCa) Calibration Campaign Completed!

Asteroid impact shaped the appearance of Mars’ moon Deimos

CHEOPS Space Mission extended

Valentin Bickel appointed Guest Investigator for BepiColombo

CHEOPS detects a new planetary "disorder"