The Propulsion and Energetics Panel Symposium on Service Life of Solid Propellant Motors was held from 10-14 May 1996, in Athens, Greece. It dealt with the methods of extending and predicting service life of solid propellant systems for rockets, gas generators and guns. It also dealt with shelf life under varying conditions. This defence-specific symposium was aimed at improving system reliability, safety and cost. There were five sessions (43 papers) and a keynote address: (1) Chemical and Physical Aging Mechanisms (9); (2) Non-Destructive Test Methods (6); (3) Gun Propellants (7); (4) Methodologies and Techniques for Determining Service Life (11); and (5) Application of the Service Life Methodology and Techniques to Rocket Motor Systems (10).