NASA 'glove challenge' set for Thursday

TITUSVILLE, Fla., Nov. 18 (UPI) -- NASA's Astronaut Glove Challenge competition, with a $400,000 prize, will test gloves independent inventors designed and constructed for use in space.

The event, to be held Thursday at the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Fla., near the Kennedy Space Center, is open to the public.

The nationwide competition focuses on developing improved pressure suit gloves for astronauts to use while working in the vacuum of space.

Part of NASA's Centennial Challenges Program, the competition will measure the gloves' dexterity and strength during operation in a glove box that simulates the vacuum of space. At least two competitors are expected, including Peter Homer, the winner of the competition held in 2007.

This year's entrants must provide a glove that includes an outer thermal protection layer, as well as the inner pressure-containing layer. The result would be a complete glove suitable for space operations.

Volanz Aerospace Inc. of Owings, Md., manages the competition for NASA. Secor Strategies LLC of Titusville is a sponsor.

Centennial Challenges is NASA's program of technology prizes for citizen-inventors. Recent events included Regolith Excavation, Lunar Lander and Power Beaming challenges, in which six different competitors won a total of $3.3 million in prizes.