Mechanical Components Branch | Glenn Projects On-Line Glenn Research Center | National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Space Mechanisms Project

Several NASA missions have suffered anomalies or failures due to problems in applying space mechanisms technology to specific projects.  Research shows that engineers often lack either adequate knowledge of mechanism design or sufficient understanding of how mechanisms affect sensitive systems.  The Space Mechanisms Project conducted a Lessons Learned study and published a Space Mechanisms Handbook to help space industry engineers avoid recurring design, qualification, and application problems.

Space Mechanisms Handbook and Lessons Learned Study. How to get the Handbook (print version or DVD). Space Drives Email Discussion List:  Keep in touch. Space Mechanisms & Lubrication papers -- download NASA reports. Pyrotechnics Manual - by Laurence Bement, Langley Research Center. Neural Nets and Tribology - Experiments in modeling bearing behavior. Miscellaneous Links - many interesting, relevant, sites. 2002 Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium & Space Mechanisms Workshop at GRC. Illustrated brochure on Glenn Space Mechanisms facilities (pdf file, 335 Kb). Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium, https://aeromechanisms.com/. The symposium is held in even-numbered years, hosted by NASA centers on a rotating basis.  Next AMS, May 2010 hosted by Kennedy Space Center.

Mars Pathfinder abrasive wheel experiment inside space mechanisms accelerated test chamber

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Last modified 24 Sep 2008