A rotating cylinder type apparatus is described, suitable for determining drag in cylindrical Couette flow of rarefied gases, and for evaluating tangential momentum accommodation coefficients at gas-solid boundaries. The apparatus is equipped with a damping device using diffusion pump oil for eliminating undesirable oscillations in the system. Tangential momentum accommodation coefficients of argon on aluminum were determined with an accuracy of ± 2.5%. The results obtained indicate that the apparatus may be used over a wide pressure range, corresponding to free molecule and continuum flow conditions.