Inventors to Compete for $400,000 in NASA Astronaut Glove Challenge

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Reporters and the public are
invited to attend the 2009 Astronaut Glove Challenge on Nov. 19 at the
Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Fla., near NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

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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 10 a.m. EST
on Nov. 19 and conclude with an award ceremony at approximately 5 p.m.

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, Md., manages the competition for NASA. Secor Strategies, LLC
of Titusville, Fla., is a sponsor for the event.

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.

For more information about NASA's Centennial Challenges, visit:

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

For information about the Astronaut Glove Challenge and Volanz Aerospace Inc.,
visit:

http://www.astronaut-glove.us

SOURCE NASA

Sonja Alexander of NASA Headquarters, Washington, +1-202-358-1761,
sonja.r.alexander@nasa.gov