Space Tribology

A special issue of Lubricants (ISSN 2075-4442).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 135

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Interests: space tribology and reliability engineering; interfacial mechanics

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Guest Editor
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
Interests: nanotribology; solid–liquid interface; lubricant additives

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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering Mechanics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China
Interests: tribology of hard coatings; superlubricity
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, entitled "Space Tribology", focuses on the key problems of friction, wear, and lubrication for tribo-pairs in space environments. It addresses the distinctive challenges presented by conditions such as vacuum, microgravity, extreme temperatures, and radiation exposure, which significantly impact material behavior and performance. Articles within this Special Issue aim to explore cutting-edge developments in materials science, including the design and application of low-friction coatings, advanced lubricants, and durable materials capable of withstanding harsh space conditions. Moreover, this Special Issue aims to encompasses research focused on novel lubrication strategies and tribological testing methodologies conducted in space simulators to simulate and analyze real-world scenarios encountered during space missions. Case studies featured in this Special Issue highlight practical challenges and solutions related to tribological issues in space exploration, providing valuable insights for engineers, researchers, and space agencies aiming to enhance the reliability, efficiency, and longevity of space technologies. Ultimately, this Special Issue aims to serve as a comprehensive repository of knowledge aimed at advancing the understanding and application of tribology in space exploration contexts.

Dr. Wanyou Yang
Dr. Wei Song
Dr. Shouyi Sun
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Lubricants is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • spacecraft tribo-testing
  • tribological performance of spacecraft components
  • vacuum environment tribology
  • spacecraft lubrication strategies
  • contact mechanics in space
  • surface roughness effects on tribology in space
  • friction reduction in space applications
  • space debris tribological interactions
  • thermal stability of lubricants in space
  • wear resistance of materials in space environments
  • solid lubricants for space applications
  • fluid film lubrication in microgravity
  • reliability of spacecraft systems under tribological stress
  • material desigh for space tribological applications
  • high-temperature tribology in space missions
  • environmental effects on tribology in space
  • nano-coatings for enhanced tribological performance in space
  • tribology in spacecraft propulsion systems
  • reliability engineering for tribological components in space
  • experimental methodologies for space tribology research

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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