ESMATS 2023

20th European Space Mechanisms
and Tribology Symposium
Organised by Astronika Sp z o.o.
20th - 22nd September, 2023
Aim & Scope
Attracting space scientists, mechanism designers and engineers from all over the world, the aims of the symposium are:
- To foster a dialogue between space mechanisms 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 as well as a presentation platform for companies and organisations
- To encourage the transfer of technology to and from space applications
- To promote awareness that space opportunities afford sustainable industrial growth
Organising Committee
Name Affiliation (Function in ESMATS 2023) Nationality |
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Lionel Gaillard ESA/ESTEC (Chair) The Netherlands ![]() |
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Marta Tokarz Astronika Sp z o.o. (Co-Chair) Poland ![]() |
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Manfred Falkner ESA/ESTEC (Deputy Chair) The Netherlands ![]() |
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Ed Boesiger Lockheed Martin (US Coordinator) USA ![]() |
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Jean-Luc Bozet Université de Liège France ![]() |
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Carlos Compostizo SENER Aerospatial Spain ![]() |
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Frederic Courtade CNES France ![]() |
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Gilles Feusier EPFL Switzerland ![]() |
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Xavier Francois Thales Alenia Space France ![]() |
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Harald Langenbach Airbus Defence & Space Germany ![]() |
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Simon Lewis ESTL-ESR Technology United Kingdom ![]() |
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Johan Mürer Kongsberg Norway ![]() |
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Mathieu Robroek Airbus Defence & Space The Netherlands ![]() |
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Samuel Senese OHB Systems AG Germany ![]() |
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Enrico Suetta SELEX Galileo Italy ![]() |
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Beat Zahnd Beyond Gravity Schweiz AG Switzerland ![]() |
Key Themes
The areas listed below are expected to be the major themes for the Symposium. Papers presenting hardware and covering these areas, coming from European and non-European entities, are specifically encouraged. Though all abstracts submitted will be given due consideration.
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- Mechanisms Design, Analysis, Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing
- Lessons learned from qualification
- Descriptions of novel and challenging designs
- New methods for design, analysis, simulations and testing of mechanisms
- Design Guidelines, high reliability
- Design/manufacturing/verification for high-volume production
- Design for disturbance attenuation, low shock, low noise performance
- Components/Equipment
- Motors, actuators, transmission devices, bearings
- Hold-down/release, deployment, pointing, scanning, high-precision and high performance devices
- Wheels, mechanical coolers, pumps, valves, solar array drive mechanisms, etc.
- Sensors, miniaturisation of space mechanisms
- Tribology and Materials
- Lubricants and lubrication for bearings, gears, joints, electrical contacts
- Application of smart materials in mechanisms
- Extreme temperatures, environments, and operating conditions, long term storage
- New tribo-materials and /or surface modification
- Tribology for micro/nano-tribology
- Launch Vehicles
- Separation systems, engine/propulsion regulation, gimballing devices, turbopumps
- In-Orbit Performance and Post-flight Investigations
- Experience with flown hardware, including reports on in-flight mechanism performance and anomalies, lessons learned
- Post-flight investigation of mechanisms and tribological components
- Science Observatories, Earth Remote Sensing, and Planetary Exploration Mechanisms
- Mechanisms for manipulations, robots, rovers
- Sampling systems and in-situ analysis devices
- Mechanical devices for science and remote sensing instruments
- Space Platforms, Tethers, Re-entry Vehicle Mechanisms
- Mechanisms for re-entry vehicles and the International Space Station
- Long-term mechanism operation and maintenance in space
- Mechanisms Design, Analysis, Manufacturing, Assembly, Integration and Testing
Best Paper Award
Since ESMATS 2019 the ESMATS committee have awarded a «Best presentation award» to the best presentation during the ESMATS symposium. A trophy will be awarded at the end of the Symposium.
The “Best presentation Award” will be attributed based on both paper content and presentation quality, the criteria being :
- Relevance to space mechanisms and tribology
- Topic based on lessons learnt
- Topic based on hardware test results
- Originality/novelty of the innovation presented
- Quality and clarity of presentation
- Quality and clarity of the presenter
History of ESMATS
Year | Location | Proceedings | Best Paper Award |
2021 | Online, WWW | On-line only - not formally published | Title: Evolution of the ExoMars Sample Crushing Unit from Breadboard to Flight Model Authors: Daniel Redlich, Robert Paul, Tim Tattusch, Christiane Bergemann, Samuel Senese, Fabio Musso, Stephen Durrant Download paper |
2019 | Munich, Germany | On-line only, not formally published. | Title: ICI LLD - A Rocky Road to a Successful Development Authors: Geert Smet, Alessandro Bursi, Luis Ordoñez Peña, Christian Hehr, Matteo Giacomazzo Download paper |
2017 | Hatfield, United Kingdom | ISBN 978-90-827435-0-0 | |
2015 | Bilbao, Spain | ESA SP-737 | |
2013 | Noordwijk, The Netherlands | ESA SP-718 | |
2011 | Constance, Germany | ESA SP-698 | |
2009 | Vienna, Austria | ESA SP-670 | |
2007 | Liverpool, United Kingdom | ESA SP-653 | |
2005 | Lucerne, Switzerland | ESA-SP-591 | |
2003 | San Sebastian, Spain | ESA-SP-524 | |
2001 | Liege, Begium | ESA-SP-480 | |
1999 | Toulouse, France | ESA-SP-438 | |
1997 | Noordwijk, The Netherlands | ESA SP-410 | |
1995 | Zurich, Switzerland | ESA SP-374 | |
1992 | Noordwijk, The Netherlands | ESA SP-334 | |
1989 | Cannes, France | ESA SP-299 | |
1987 | Madrid, Spain | ESA SP-279 | |
1985 | Schloss Meersburg, Germany | ESA SP-231 | |
1983 | Neuchatel, Switzerland | ESA SP-196 |