Lubrication of Spacecraft Bearings

BEARINGS AND LUBRICATION are extremely important in spacecraft mechanisms. As in any mechanism, good bearing and lubrication practices lead to high efficiency and low wear. The bearing and lubrication problem in space is somewhat severe because of weight limitations, reliability requirements, and the space environment. However, the problem may be satisfactorily solved in most cases by proper application of basic bearing theory and use of the proper materials and lubricants.