An apparatus is described for the measurement of temperature near the interface of bodies sliding in a vacuum. The rotating element or slider is electromagnetically suspended inside the vacuum system and rotated with an induction motor positioned outside the vacuum system. Because of the suspension system, the only contacts in the apparatus are the stationary elements or riders acting on the slider. The temperatures measured near the sliding interface can be used in analysis as boundary points to provide the temperature and temperature gradient at the interface of each element. The juncture condition of continuity of temperature and its gradient can then be checked. To avoid unnecessary contacts in the system, the temperatures on the slider are telemetered out of the vacuum system by transmitters located on the slider. Thermocouples are used to measure temperature on the rider. The vacuum system is hermetically sealed, with suspension and rotation being affected from outside the vacuum system. The torque in the system and the normal load of the rider are also measured. The maximum sliding speed is 39 cm/sec and a vacuum of the order of 10−3Torr was used. Results are given for Teflon sliding on steel.