KSC-2009-6494

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At the Astronaut Hall of Fame near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the winners of the 2009 Astronaut Glove Challenge, part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges Program, pose for a group photograph with their friends, family and the event organizers. From left are Caroline Homer and her father, Peter Homer, winner of the $250,000 first prize; Alan Hayes, chairman of Volanz Aerospace Inc.; Andy Petro, manager of NASA Centennial Challenges; Ted Southern, winner of the $100,000 second prize; his friend and glove tester Amy Miller; and Paul Secor, Secor Strategies LLC. The nationwide competition focused on developing improved pressure suit gloves for astronauts to use while working in space. During the challenge, the gloves were submitted to burst tests, joint force tests and tests to measure their dexterity and strength during operation in a glove box which simulates the vacuum of space. Centennial Challenges is NASA’s program of technology prizes for the citizen-inventor. The winning prize for the Glove Challenge is $250,000 provided by the Centennial Challenges Program. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett