Every KSNN News Break includes a "hands-on" activity. Teachers believe that everyone can learn better when they see and touch what they study. NASA has developed a way for astronauts to truly do "hands-on" experiments.

The equipment astronauts can now use is called the Microgravity Science Glovebox. This glovebox lets astronauts put their hands into gloves that are inside a special box. 'Gloves' + 'Box' = 'Glovebox'! There are actually gloves on the front and sides of the glovebox. This lets astronauts reach anywhere they need to reach inside the glovebox.

This device has been used for some time on Earth. It lets scientists see into the box as they safely touch objects while they wear gloves. The glovebox is sealed and the gloves are sealed where they go into the box so things can't get in or out. The astronaut's hand is actually outside the glovebox, but they can actually manipulate things inside the box with the glove. Gloveboxes were used to study moon rocks and will be used to study the first rocks from Mars.

There are many other reasons why gloveboxes are needed in space. As you probably know, things can float in space. They can't float away if they are already inside the glovebox. Some materials could possibly hurt an astronaut if they are touched. The gloves keep the astronaut safe. Sometimes, the astronauts can safely touch something while it is inside the glovebox that they would never touch directly outside the glovebox. Most experiments still require that astronauts wear gloves for safety.

Many experiments have already been conducted with gloveboxes on space shuttle flights. A larger glovebox is now on the International Space Station (ISS). The new glovebox is large enough to hold 255 liters (67 gallons) of liquid. An average bathtub can't hold that much water. The glovebox on the space shuttle only holds 44 liters (10 gallons).

Astronauts have experimented with growing crystals in the glovebox. These are protein crystals. They grow bigger and better in space because there is no gravity to weigh them down and the Glovebox lets the astronaut set the experiments up by hand and watch how to change things. These crystals help scientists know more about protein in the human body.

A glovebox has actually proved how well it can protect astronauts. A glass tube broke inside and the glovebox was able to stop the pieces from floating away where they could have hurt the astronauts.

Fumes can be a problem with some experiments. The glovebox is sealed to hold in fumes until they are safely taken away through a vent.

Astronauts have been able to study fire and the behavior of flames inside a glovebox. Astronauts were surprised when they saw that flames in space are round - not pointed - as they are on Earth.

A video camera is also placed inside the glovebox. This lets scientists on Earth watch experiments as they happen.

Gloveboxes will continue to be an important part of future experiments on the International Space Station. It is exciting to think that a future experiment in a glovebox might produce a new medicine or material that we can't make on Earth.