21st European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium

Conference Details

Date: 24 September 2025

Time: To be announced

Duration: 3 days

Location: Lausanne, Switzerland

Cost: Register online for more information.

Organiser: EPFL, Almatech, CSEM, and ESA

Conference Website

Conference Description

ESMATS’s reputation as lead event dedicated to Space Mechanisms Engineering continues to grow. The 2023 edition in Warsaw saw a gathering of over 300 guests, speakers, and exhibitors. We hope to see even more visitors in 2025.

Established as a biennial event since 1983, ESMATS returns to Switzerland after 20 years. This time participants will convene to western Switzerland, renowned for its cultural heritage in the art of mechanisms now evolved to prestigious watchmaking and pioneering technology.

As a tradition, prior to the conference, specialized training courses will offer attendees the opportunity to enhance expertise in targeted areas of mechanism and tribology.

EPFL, Almatech, CSEM, and ESA extend a warm invitation to participate in the 21^st edition of ESMATS, set to take place in Lausanne, Switzerland. We eagerly anticipate your presence at this esteemed event and the accompanying courses – welcoming you to Lausanne in September 2025!

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.

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.

• 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.