Civilian engineer wins NASA space glove contest

 NASA recently held a contest for scientists and engineers to create a space glove that can match or even surpass the quality of current-generation Phase VI models. The winner was a one-man team from Maine named Peter Homer.

There were six entries all in all from groups around the US. At stake was a US$ 200,000 grand prize and another US$ 50,000 for runner-ups. Homer took the big money home and credited long hours at the sewing machine for the victory.

The gloves were judged according to flexibility, protection value, toughness and a burst test where the gloves were filled with water to see the maximum measure of the glove right before pressure popped it.

Shuttle spacesuit subsystems manager Bill Spenny was excited with the winning creation and commented “If you’re looking for innovative ideas, evolutionary steps and better gloves, you can’t beat it.” This marks the first time that NASA has offered such a generous prize for a civilian design competition.

NASA says that the contest is intended to spark interest among civilians in the science of space exploration. The agency is getting ready to hold another Centennial Challenge celebration and accompanying activities on May 12 to “bring the heavens” closer to the people in a manner of speaking.

Via Space.com

 NASA recently held a contest for scientists and engineers to create a space glove that can match or even surpass the quality of current-generation Phase VI models. The winner was a one-man team from Maine named Peter Homer.

There were six entries all in all from groups around the US. At stake was a US$ 200,000 grand prize and another US$ 50,000 for runner-ups. Homer took the big money home and credited long hours at the sewing machine for the victory.

The gloves were judged according to flexibility, protection value, toughness and a burst test where the gloves were filled with water to see the maximum measure of the glove right before pressure popped it.

Shuttle spacesuit subsystems manager Bill Spenny was excited with the winning creation and commented “If you’re looking for innovative ideas, evolutionary steps and better gloves, you can’t beat it.” This marks the first time that NASA has offered such a generous prize for a civilian design competition.

NASA says that the contest is intended to spark interest among civilians in the science of space exploration. The agency is getting ready to hold another Centennial Challenge celebration and accompanying activities on May 12 to “bring the heavens” closer to the people in a manner of speaking.

Via Space.com