The Center for Space and Habitability (CSH) was created in 2012 by the University of Bern and its first Director was Prof. Dr. Kathrin Altwegg, who led the ROSINA instrument on the Rosetta mission. In the same year, the European Space Agency selected the Characterizing Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS) as its inaugural small-class mission.  Led by Prof. Dr. Willy Benz of the University of Bern, it aims to detect Earth-sized exoplanets around the nearest, brightest stars.