ESA Space Mechanisms

?? Compliant Mechanism Design Course delivered by CSEM – Register Now! ?? ? ?? 31st March – 1st April 2025 ?? ESA ESTEC ? Compliant Mechanisms (CM) enable precise, frictionless, and lubricant-free motion with high fatigue performance, making them ideal for space and other harsh environments. But designing them right is a challenge! ? This 2-day course will cover everything from design and analysis to manufacturing, testing, and integration, including the latest advances with additive manufacturing. Perfect for engineers, designers, and managers looking to master CM development for space systems. ? ?? Followed by: ?? Space Mechanisms Workshop on Compliant Mechanisms – 2nd April ?? Mechanisms Final Presentation Days – 3rd & 4th April ? ?? Don’t miss out—register now! ?? More details and registration: https://lnkd.in/eMPsMhie ? #CompliantMechanisms #SpaceEngineering

?? We're Hiring – Mechanisms Engineer at ESA! ?? Our Mechanisms Section is looking for a new colleague! If you're passionate about space mechanisms, tribology, pyrotechnics, and mechanical systems for satellites and launchers, this is your chance to join ESA’s expert team. ?? Role: Mechanisms Engineer ?? Location: ESA (Technology, Engineering & Quality Directorate) ?? Apply now: https://lnkd.in/gD3K8tHf The Mechanisms Section provides functional support to ESA projects and carries out technological research and development (R&D) in the fields of space mechanisms (such as for deployment and pointing or hold-down and release, solar array drives and reaction wheels), tribology, pyrotechnics, and space mechanical systems for satellites and launchers. Join us in shaping the future of space exploration! ???? #ESACareers #SpaceMechanisms #Engineering #JoinESA

?? ESMATS 2025 – Abstract Submission Deadline Extended! ?? ??Good news! The deadline for abstract submissions for the European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium (ESMATS 2025) has been extended to 16th February 2025. Don't miss this opportunity to present your work and connect with the space mechanisms community! Submit your extended abstract (up to 450 words) for a presentation or poster. ?? Event Date: 24–26 September 2025 ?? Location: EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland ?? Submit now: https://lnkd.in/e8BcY67i #ESMATS2025 #SpaceMechanisms #Tribology #CallForPapers

Call for Papers: European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium 2025! ?? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????: ???????? ?????????????? ???????? ESMATS 2025 invites authors to submit extended abstracts (up to 450 words, including photos, diagrams, and test data) for presentations or posters. This year's symposium will introduce a special focus on New Developments—technologies that haven’t yet flown but are sufficiently mature to be shared with the space mechanisms community. This is a fantastic opportunity for researchers, engineers, and professionals to present cutting-edge developments and engage with a global network of experts. ?? Submit your abstract now: https://lnkd.in/e8BcY67i The 21st ESMATS will be held at EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland, from 24th to 26th September 2025. It will be an excellent opportunity to network and meet with experts from industry, academia and ESA Space Mechanisms team.

European Space Mechanisms And Tribology Symposium 2025 call for abstracts is live. Have a look at the EMATS website and apply! https://lnkd.in/e8BcY67i

?? Save the Date: Space Mechanisms Workshop 2025! ?? The ESA Space Mechanisms team is thrilled to invite you to the 2025 Space Mechanisms Workshop, Final Presentation Days and Compliant Mechanisms Design Course, taking place from March 31 to April 4, 2025, at ESA/ESTEC in the Netherlands. ?? Event Schedule: ?? Compliant Mechanisms Design Course Organized by CSEM ??? Space Mechanisms Workshop: Compliant Mechanisms We will discuss applications and advantages of compliant mechanisms, insights into traditional and additive manufacturing technologies and innovation opportunities. ???? Final Presentation Days Featuring presentations on mechanisms-related ESA R&D activities completed in recent months. Why Attend? ??Dive deep into cutting-edge space mechanisms technologies. ??Network with fellow professionals in the space industry. ??Stay informed about the latest innovations and trends in space mechanisms and compliant mechanisms. More details on our website: https://lnkd.in/gqr6cDCq ?? Registration opens early next year. Mark your calendars—we look forward to welcoming you in ESTEC! #SpaceMechanisms #CompliantMechanisms #ESAEvents #SpaceHardware Please note that due to the nature of the information that will be shared, this event can only be attended by participants from entities registered in an?ESA Member State, Associate State or Cooperating State. ESA Member states (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom), associated states (Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia) or cooperating states (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Malta).

Did you know that our team at ESA regularly hosts interns? ?????????? This is your chance to dive into the fascinating world of space mechanisms and contribute to cutting-edge research and development in a truly inspiring environment! ?????? We're looking for a motivated Intern to join us at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands, where you'll work with us to push the boundaries of space mechanisms. This opportunity is for you if you: ?? Are a university student (final or second-to-last year) in engineering or a related field, ?? Have a keen interest in mechanisms, tribology, and/or testing, ?? Love hands-on work and aren’t afraid of getting into the details, ?? Want to gain experience in working in ESA. ?? Tasks may include: ?? Reviewing and optimizing designs, simulations, or tests, ?? Exploring feasibility of new mechanism concepts, ?? Participating in R&D and Concurrent Design Facility studies, ?? Supporting hands-on activities and additive manufacturing projects. If you’re curious, passionate about space, and ready to learn, this is the perfect opportunity for you! ??? ?? Applications are now open: https://lnkd.in/exrqh7Ah until 30/11/2025. We are looking forward to seeing your application! ????

We are excited to share a video showcasing the deployment of the LP-PWI boom of Juice spacecraft. This boom houses the Langmuir probes, which are part of the Radio and Plasma Wave Investigation of the Juice mission. The LP-PWI boom is a two-segment, non-synchronized boom with no dampers, resulting in a very dynamic deployment. The sound was created using vibration signals measured in space by HAA (High Accuracy Accelerometer, which is part of 3GM Radio Science Experiment), matched with the ground testing video of the same deployment. This allows you to imagine sound of the spacecraft 'deploying its limbs' in space. ????? For more information about this video and the mission, visit the X profile of ESA’s Juice: https://lnkd.in/eGyGnPmc #JuiceMission #SpaceExploration #ESA #SpaceTechnology

Let’s discuss how European Space Tribology Laboratory keeps spacecraft mechanisms moving and how this can help your project. ????? ?? We should start by discussing tribology.?Tribology – the study of friction, wear, and lubrication – is crucial both on Earth and in space. It combines physics, chemistry, fluid mechanics, material science, and metallurgy to minimize adhesion, friction, and wear, and is crucial to maximize the lifespan of mechanical systems. In space, the environment presents unique challenges like extremely low vacuum, extreme temperatures, and high levels of radiation. These factors, along with the inaccessibility for maintenance and the long lifetime of space missions, make "getting the tribology right" essential. The tribological solutions employed for terrestrial applications cannot readily be applied in space, and very specific and optimized space industry measures must be used. Given this, there is an enormous desire to demonstrate and verify tribological solutions for novel space applications, to ensure that the mechanisms flying on the next generation of spacecraft can meet their life requirements, however demanding they may be. Founded over 50 years ago, the European Space Tribology Laboratory (ESTL) is a centre of excellence operated by ESR Technology (UK) on behalf of ESA. ESTL supports ESA’s Member and Cooperating states with R&D, consultancy, and hardware thermal vacuum testing. Their support cover solid and fluid lubricants for flight hardware, backed by extensive in-house expertise. ESTL’s support is tailored to clients' needs, accessible to both new-space entities and established developers. Services range from minor consultancy, which can be free for entities from ESA Member States and Canada (details at https://lnkd.in/eTFauhe2), to complex mechanism and tribological consultancy, including lubricant or material selection, evaluation, and testing. ESTL has produced industry-standard handbooks and developed sophisticated modelling software for predicting ball bearing behavior. Their specialized test facilities, many of which are globally unique, include state-of-the-art vacuum tribometers and customizable thermal vacuum test chambers. These facilities allow for detailed lubricant performance assessment and component-level tests with full environmental control. ESTL’s team regularly supports spacecraft applications for lunar missions, telecoms, robotics, Earth Observation, and more. By providing expertise, tackling challenges, rigorously testing solutions, and driving innovation, ESTL ensures the smooth operation and longevity of European spacecraft, bolstering Europe's space industry competitiveness. We are very happy to have cooperated with ESTL for the last 50 years and developed so much knowledge in the field of Space Tribology with them. If you also want to be up to date with their work, make sure to follow their page: ESR Technology. #SpaceMechanisms #ESTL #ESA #Tribology #SpaceExploration

Last week, three of our team members participated in the "Hands-On Training" hosted by the European Space Tribology Laboratory (ESTL). ???????? It was an invaluable experience working with the ESTL team and learning more about their processes, techniques, and advanced test facilities. Tribology is crucial for the reliability of space mechanisms, and the ESTL training provides a great opportunity to appreciate its importance. Advancements in tribology are vital for Europe's progress in space mechanisms technology. Thank you, ESTL, for an excellent training session. #ESA #ESTL #ESRTechnology #Training #Tribology