International space missions
Meet Space Researchers from Switzerland and Japan
The University of Bern, in collaboration with JAXA and the University of Tokyo, will take you on a journey into space. Have you ever wondered what’s out there? Do you have questions about the stars, planets or space missions? Now’s your chance to meet space experts and learn more about current space missions to comets, the moon or planets. This journey will include talks, a workshop and a demonstration in virtual reality. We would be happy to welcome you at the Swiss Pavilion at EXPO 2025 Osaka.
Bernese space exploration: With the world’s elite since the first moon landing
When the second man, “Buzz” Aldrin, stepped out of the lunar module on July 21, 1969, the first task he did was to set up the Bernese Solar Wind Composition experiment (SWC) also known as the “solar wind sail” by planting it in the ground of the moon, even before the American flag. This experiment, which was planned, built and the results analyzed by Prof. Dr. Johannes Geiss and his team from the Physics Institute of the University of Bern, was the first great highlight in the history of Bernese space exploration.
Since then, Bernese space research has been at the forefront of the field: the University of Bern regularly participates in space missions of major space agencies such as ESA, NASA or JAXA, for example with a laser altimeter on the ESA/JAXA mission BepiColombo to Mercury. With CHEOPS, the University of Bern shares responsibility with ESA for an entire mission. In addition, the Bernese researchers are among the world leaders when it comes to models and simulations of the formation and evolution of small bodies and planets, including in the context of JAXA’s Hayabusa 2 mission.
Outline
The same session will be held twice: 10:30-12:00 and 14:00-15:30. Please register just for one session.
Talks
- JAXA’s international cooperation in Space Research Masaki Fujimoto, Director General, ISAS/JAXA
- ESA/JAXA space mission Comet Interceptor ? The scent of space, Martin Rubin, principal investigator (PI) of mass spectrometer MANiaC on Comet Interceptor, University of Bern
Workshops
- Virtual reality: JAXA’s lunar exploration Workshop featuring Public Relations Officers from the JAXA International Space Exploration Center Fuki Taniguchi Ayumi Yoshihara Erika Sugiyama
- How to build a comet with dry ice, water, dust and soy sauce? Workshop featuring researchers involved in the ESA/JAXA space mission Comet Interceptor: Satoshi Kasahara, PI of Plasma Suite onboard Comet Interceptor, University of Tokyo, Kazuo Yoshioka, PI of Hydrogen Imager, University of Tokyo, Taichi Ito, JAXA, Hideyo Kawakita, Science Lead of Comet Interceptor, Kyoto Sangyo University, Martin Rubin, PI of mass spectrometer MANiaC, University of Bern.