So It's Not Exactly The X-Prize, But Important None The Less

NASA will hold the 2009 Astronaut Glove Challenge on November 19th at the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Florida, near NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The event is open to the public.

The $400,000 prize challenge is a nationwide competition that focuses on developing improved pressure suit gloves for astronauts to use while working in the vacuum of space. The competition is scheduled to begin at 1000, and conclude with an award ceremony at approximately 1700.

Part of NASA's Centennial Challenges Program, the competition will test gloves independent inventors designed and constructed. The tests 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 is a complete glove suitable for space operations.

NASA's Centennial Challenges program will provide the prize. Volanz Aerospace Inc. of Owings, Maryland, manages the competition for NASA.

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

FMI: http://www.nasa.gov/offices/ipp/innovation_incubator/cc_home.html