The Space Research & Planetary Sciences division, at the University of Bern, is a Swiss research centre.

Its research program concentrates on topics related to the history, origin and early evolution of planetary systems. By means of in situ measurements, remote sensing observations, laboratory analysis, and numerical modeling, we investigate our own solar system with its small bodies (comets and asteroids), its planets and their atmospheres as well as the newly discovered extra-solar planets to unravel the physical processes underlying the formation and evolution of these systems. These investigations also include the past and present interaction of the Sun with magnetospheres and atmospheres with the Earth and with comets.

Japan Space Imaging Corporation is a provider of satellite imagery.

JSI is a regional affiliate of GeoEye.

Space Imaging Middle East LLC (SIME) is a provider of satellite imagery for Earth observation. SIME offers a wide spectrum of products & services ranging from imagery collection & processing, to highly customized GIS database & software solutions.

SIME offers imagery collected from various earth observation satellites and aerial sensors, with resolutions varying from 15 centimeters to 20 meters. SIME's satellite constellation includes the Indian Remote Sensing satellite (IRS), IKONOS and CARTOSAT satellites. SIME controls its satellite constellation via a ground station based in the UAE. The Company also has an aircraft permanently stationed in the region to collect aerial imagery.

SIME is a regional affiliate of GeoEye.

Danish Aerospace Company (DAC) is a high-tech company operating in the area of advanced medical instrumentation and other engineering fields primarily within space applications.

The hardware from DAC has flown on the majority of todays (May 2013) manned and unmanned space transportation vehicles. This includes flights on:

• All US Space Shuttles (Now retired)
• Soyuz capsules from Russia (manned)
• Russian Progress vehicles (unmanned)
• European ATV-transport vehicles (unmanned)
• HTV-transport vehicles from Japan (unmanned)

OICETS, the Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite (other name Kirari) is an experimental satellite by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to demonstrate interorbital communication between satellites through optical (laser) means.

In order to be able to perform the tests during the lifetime of the European Artemis satellite, OICETS was successfully launched on a Dnepr launcher.

Operation finished by September 24, 2009.

The Swiss Propulsion Laboratory (SPL), founded in autumn 1998, is running integrated programs focusing on research and development of space-technology in Switzerland.

Objectives and Strategies

SPL aims to develop, build and run reasonable priced systems to transport small payloads into a low-earth orbit (LEO). Old and established paths are intentionally renounced in order to envisage new and innovative concepts covering impacts on our environment as much as possible.

Involving external facilities and inviting other organizations to participate allows SPL to achieve its objectives. The components will be developed in a joint effort of SPL, interested universities, graduate schools and Switzerland precision industry. SPL will provide the required co-ordination of all involved parties, for example by extracting and forwarding precisely defined technical problems to educational institutions, thereby enabling them to effectively take part in space-technology oriented "applied science".

GATS, Inc. is an aerospace company founded in 1986.

GATS primary area of business is support of satellite-based atmospheric remote sensing projects. This includes all phases of project life cycle, from concept development to data dissemination and research efforts. GATS propose calibration and performance analysis software, radiative transfer packages, flight operations utilities, and web-based project and data management systems.

NanoSpace AB is a Swedish company developing and providing electro-mechanical products for space. It is a subsidiary of Swedish Space Corporation (SSC).

MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) is the core technology in NanoSpace's products. NanoSpace's vision is to be a recognized supplier of novel space qualified products based on innovative thinking and solid knowledge from both MEMS and space industry.

MEMS technology has changed the landscape in areas such as biotech, life science and the automotive industry. Components and subsystems based on MEMS technology are currently being introduced into the space sector and NanoSpace is one of the few companies devoted to this development.

Universal Space Network Inc (USN) is an American company specializing in tracking, telemetry, and control of spacecraft.

It is a subsidiary of Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), with four main sites and cooperative agreements with many others. USN has been used by commercial satellite operations such as Sirius XM Radio and scientific missions both in low earth orbit (such as GALEX) and in orbit around the moon (such as Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and GRAIL). 

The Robotic Refueling Mission (RRM) is a NASA technology demonstration mission that was launched in 2011 and successfully completed in 2013 from the International Space Station (ISS).

The purpose is to demonstrate the technology and tools to refuel satellites in orbit by robotic means. After the proof of concept, the long-term goal of NASA is to transfer the technology to the commercial sector.

A step II mission is scheduled during the summer of 2013 and early 2014.

RRM is designed with four tools, each with electronics and two cameras and lights. Additionally, it has pumps and controllers and electrical systems such as electrical valves and sensors.