Abstract: A gas thrust bearing for a shaft mounted for rotation and limited axial movement in a housing. As disclosed, the axial shaft load is supported by pressurized gas between an end of the shaft serving as a first thrust surface and a cylindrical thrust pad providing a second thrust surface having an outlet orifice at its center. Pressurized gas is introduced between the shaft and the housing and flows between the thrust surfaces to the outlet orifice. The outlet orifice is surrounded by a small raised annulus. The thrust pad carrying the second thrust surface is supported on a flexible diaphragm which moves in response to changes in the thrust load in a manner to damp out oscillations of the shaft.