esmats:european space mechanisms and tribology symposium

ESMATS is a bi-annual event held on alternate years in collaboration with its sister event in the USA - The Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium - the European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium, ESMATS, regularly attracts around 200 space mechanism designers and engineers, space scientists and satellite project and programme managers from around the world. The first ESMATS was held in Neuchatel, Switzerland in 1983 and since then has been hosted in a variety of European countries under the sponsorship of ESA (European Space Agency) and some of the major European satellite and space companies. Each symposium includes a full copy of the presented papers on CD.

The aims of the ESMATS symposium are:

• To foster a dialogue between space mechanism engineers on the design, development, testing, production and in-flight experience of spacecraft and payload mechanisms
• To encourage personal contacts in the mechanisms and tribology community
• To provide a networking opportunity for small and medium sized companies and for the transfer of technology to and from space applications
• To promote awareness that space opportunities afford sustainable industrial growth

esmats:past papers

esmats:past papers is a full text searchable index of the papers presented at:

• Toulouse (1999) (complete list of ESMATS 1999 papers)
• Liege (2001) (complete list of ESMATS 2001 papers)
• Sans Sebastian (2003) (complete list of ESMATS 2003 papers)
• Lucerne (2005) (complete list of ESMATS 2005 papers)
• Liverpool (2007) (complete list of ESMATS 2007 papers)
• Vienna (2009) (complete list of ESMATS 2009 papers)
• Constance (2011) (complete list of ESMATS 2011 papers)

The papers are stored in pdf form and are free to download.

Topics covered by the symposium are: Space Mechanisms Miniaturisation Tribology Science Instruments In-flight Experiences and Lessons Learned Deployment Mechanisms and Actuators Launch Vehicle Mechanisms Special Functions Mechanism Test Programmes Instrumentation Lubrication Tribology Long life space mechanisms Single shot space mechanisms Low shock release devices

Past papers have covered Mechanisms such as: Solar Array Drive Mechanisms (SADM) Antenna Pointing Mechanisms (APM) Reaction Wheels Momentum Wheels Pyrotechnic Release Devices Non-pyrotechnic Release Devices Boom Deployment Mechanisms Dampers Antenna Deployment Mechanisms (ADM) Antenna Deployment and Trimming Mechanisms (ADTM) Spring Ejection System Spin-up Ejection Devices and Mechanisms (SUEM) Clamp Bands Filter Wheels Actuators Piezo Electric Motors etc.. etc..

These papers contain a wealth of information and experience relating to the topic of space mechanisms and offer any designer of equipment in this field the opportunity to benefit from the shared knowledge.

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