Bern University and a number of Swiss companies were involved in the joint ESA/NASA Cassini-Huygens mission to land a probe on Titan, one of the moons of Saturn.

Contraves Space of Zurich provided the mechanism which separated the Huygens probe from the Cassini mother ship, as well as the shields that protected the probe from the immense heat - up to 8000 degrees Celsius (14430 Fahrenheit) - which it encountered on entering Titan's atmosphere at a speed of about 21,600 km (13,420 miles) per hour.

Huygens separated from Cassini on December 25th 2004, and landed on Titan on January 14th 2005. It sent back more than three hours of data during its descent and from the surface.

Mars Science Laboratory

Lasers designed by a firm in Neuchâtel are to be used in a NASA mission to search for life on Mars, which is due to be launched in 2009.

The quantum cascade lasers will be part of the rover Mars Science Laboratory, which is due to spend about two years conducting experiments on the planet. The task of the lasers is to help examine the chemical composition of various gases, in particular to determine whether the methane on the planet comes from volcanic or biological sources.

The firm, Neuchâtel University spin-off Alpes Lasers, was selected for the precision of its lasers and their ability to work at high speed. They also consume very little power, which is important on a space mission.

The lasers have potential uses on earth as well. They can act as a sensor quickly able to recognise dangerous substances, or to diagnose diseases from the breath exhaled by a patient.