ams:aerospace space mechanisms symposium

AMS is a bi-annual event held on alternate years in collaboration with its sister event in Europe - ESMATS. The Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium regularly attracts around 200 space mechanism designers and engineers, space scientists and satellite project and programme managers from around the world.

The Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium was the brain child of three men in the mid-1960s. William Shimandle of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory had the consulting and summer services of Professor Richard Pefley from the University of Santa Clara. They were involved in a contract with Lockheed Missiles & Space and Dr. George Herzl of Lockheed. These three had a common interest in mechanisms. At the time, there was no technical society devoted to aerospace mechanisms, and recognizing the need, they set out to do something about it. Dr. Herzl was the driving force to organize the AMS, and the first conference was held at the University of Santa Clara. The symposia were initiated in 1966 by Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the University of Santa Clara to provide a forum for technological interchange among specialists active in aerospace mechanisms. The response to the first AMS was inspiring, and after the second AMS it became necessary to find larger facilities.



In common with ESMATS the aims of the AMS 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

ams:past papers

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

Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Location	Publication Reference (click for full list for year)
37th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	NASA, Johnson Space Center (2004)	NASA /CP-2004-212073
38th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Williamsburg, Virginia (2006)	NASA CP-2006-214290
39th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Huntsville, Alabama (2008)	NASA-CP-2008-2152520
40th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Cocoa Beach, Florida (2010)	NASA/CP-2010-216272
41st Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Pasadena, California (2012)	NASA/CP-2012-217653
42nd Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Baltimore, Maryland (2014)	NASA/CP–2014-217519
43rd Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Santa Clara, California (2016)	NASA/CP-2016-219090
44th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Cleveland, Ohio (2018)	NASA/CP-2018-219887
45th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	(Houston, Texas) (2020)	NASA/CP-20205009766
46th Aerospace Mechanisms Symposium	Online, WWW (2022)	NASA/CP-20220006415

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

Topics covered by the symposium are: Actuators/Motors Aircraft-related mechanisms Antennas Booms/Deployable structures/Erectable structures Bearings Dampers/Brakes Deployment devices/Hinges/Linkages Drives/Gearing/Speed Reducers EVA equipment/Astronaut equipment Gimbals/Pointing/Servomechanisms Scanner/Chopper/Mirror/Instrument mechanisms Latches/Clamps/Docking Release mechanisms Robotics Solar-array related mechanisms Soil and particle collection mechanisms Separation/Ejection/Satellite Despin Ground and Test Equipment Utility (power,data,fluid) transfer/Umbilicals Tribology Momentum/Reaction wheels Miscellaneous

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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