[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 158 (Wednesday, August 16, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47256-47257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13498]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (06-054)]


 Centennial Challenges 2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

[[Page 47257]]


ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice is issued in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2451 (314) 
(d). The 2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge registration is open for teams 
that wish to compete. The NASA Centennial Challenges Program is a 
program of prize contests to stimulate innovation and competition in 
space exploration and ongoing NASA mission areas. The 2007 Astronaut 
Glove Challenge is a prize contest designed to promote the development 
of glove joint technology, resulting in a highly dexterous and flexible 
glove that can be used by astronauts over long periods of time for 
space or planetary surface excursions. The 2007 Astronaut Glove 
Challenge is being administered for NASA by Volanz Aerospace/
Spaceflight America in a format that brings all competitors to a single 
location for a ``head to head'' competition. Each team will be required 
to perform a variety of tasks with their gloves and will be scored on 
the glove performance. The 2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge Web site is 
http://www.astronaut-glove.us. The Centennial Challenges Web site is 
http://centennialchallenges.nasa.gov.

DATES: The 2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge will be held in April, 2007. 
The specific dates and location will be listed on http://www.astronaut-glove.us.

ADDRESSES: Questions and comments regarding the NASA Centennial 
Challenges Program should be addressed to Mr. Ken Davidian, Suite 2M14, 
Centennial Challenges Program, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, 
NASA, 20546-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
regarding the NASA Centennial Challenges Program should be directed to 
Mr. Ken Davidian, Suite 2M14, Centennial Challenges Program, 
Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA, 20546-0001, (202) 358-
0748, [email protected]. To register for and to get additional 
information regarding the 2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge, visit http://www.astronaut-glove.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Summary

    The 2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge prizes will go to the teams that 
can design and manufacture the best performing glove within competition 
parameters. Current astronaut gloves contain a bladder and bladder 
restraint. Mechanical Counter Pressure (MCP) gloves, which have not yet 
been used by astronauts in space, typically do not. A separate 2007 MCP 
Glove Demonstration will be held in order to include diverse 
technologies.

Challenge Basis and Prize Amount

    The $250,000 total purse will be awarded at a competition scheduled 
for April 2007, when competing teams test their glove designs against 
each other. The prizes are $200,000 for the 2007 Astronaut Glove 
Challenge winner and $50,000 for the MCP Glove Demonstration winner. 
MCP glove designers may participate in either the 2007 Astronaut Glove 
Challenge or 2007 MCP Glove Demonstration. They may not participate in 
both. Bladder and bladder-restraint gloves may only participate in the 
2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge. Hybrid gloves that meet the 
requirements of both Challenges, may participate in either the 
Challenge or Demonstration, but not both.

Eligibility

    The Centennial Challenges Program has established the following 
language in the CHALLENGE Team Agreements governing eligibility. 
CHALLENGE is the 2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge.
    TEAM is defined as an individual, organization or corporation, or a 
group of individuals, organizations or corporations that register to 
participate in CHALLENGE. TEAM is comprised of a TEAM LEADER and TEAM 
MEMBERS.
    TEAM LEADER is defined as a single individual, organization, or 
corporation, which is the sole agent representing TEAM regarding its 
participation in CHALLENGE. TEAM LEADERS that are individuals must be 
U.S. citizens. TEAM LEADERS that are organizations or corporations must 
be incorporated in the U.S. and majority-owned and controlled by U.S. 
citizens. Corporate or other organizational TEAM LEADERS must appoint 
an individual who is an officer of the Corporation or organization to 
represent the TEAM LEADER.
    TEAM MEMBERS are defined as those participants on the TEAM that are 
not the TEAM LEADER. If a TEAM consists of a single individual, then in 
this case the TEAM MEMBER is also the TEAM LEADER. Individuals and 
corporate entities that are other than U.S. citizens or entities may be 
TEAM MEMBERS, subject to written request to and approval by VOLANZ.
    All TEAM MEMBERS will apply to register for the CHALLENGE through 
TEAM LEADER and must receive written concurrence by VOLANZ.
    All TEAM MEMBERS must execute an ``Adoption of Agreement'' 
committing to all terms of this AGREEMENT. By signing below, TEAM 
LEADER represents that all TEAM MEMBERS have executed the Adoption of 
Agreement and that no one else will become a member of the TEAM or 
participate in the CHALLENGE until such new TEAM MEMBER has signed this 
Agreement. VOLANZ may disqualify any TEAM if it discovers that a person 
is acting as a TEAM MEMBER who has not signed this AGREEMENT. TEAM 
LEADER will provide VOLANZ with a copy of the ``Adoption of Agreement'' 
signed by each TEAM MEMBER.
    Any U.S. Government organization or organization principally or 
substantially funded by the Federal Government, including Federally 
Funded Research and Development Centers, Government-owned, contractor 
operated (GOCO) facilities, and University Affiliated Research Centers, 
are ineligible to be a TEAM LEADER or TEAM MEMBER.
    U.S. Government employees may not participate in the CHALLENGE as 
TEAM LEADER or TEAM MEMBER.
    TEAM MEMBERS may not participate in CHALLENGE on more than one 
TEAM.

Rules

    The 2007 Astronaut Glove Challenge Rules and Team Agreement can be 
found at: http://www.astronaut-glove.us.

    Dated: August 8, 2006.
Scott J. Horowitz,
Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate.
 [FR Doc. E6-13498 Filed 8-15-06; 8:45 am]
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