The point of the contest was to develop a glove that can be used by astronauts over long periods of time in space or on the surface of the moon, Mars or other planetary body. NASA wants a new glove that is easier for astronauts to work in, as well as lighter-weight, stronger and more durable than gloves currently in use.
Spacewalks are hard on astronauts' hands, not only because the tools and tasks require manual dexterity, but also because astronauts rely on their hands to maneuver their bodies in space. The gloves are pressurized and difficult to work in.
For the competition, contestants' gloves faced three key tests: how much force was required to move the fingers and thumb, a series of manual dexterity maneuvers and a burst check to see how much pressure the glove could withstand.
Homer's glove met all the criteria and handily defeated its two rivals. An award ceremony to present Homer his winnings is pending.
