NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station used to need scissors to tear a strip of duct tape (in a pinch, they use their teeth to tear a piece) but thanks to high school students, they now have something much better: a duct tape dispenser specially with connector that can be mounted on the walls of the space station.
Mike Hopkins of the Crew-1 SpaceX Crew Dragon explained, "This tape dispenser I think is going to find a lot of use here on the International Space Station. One of the key things I like about it is you can basically operate it with one hand. Up here, you often times are using your other hand to stabilize yourself."
The duct tape dispenser was created through HUNCH or High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware, a nationwide program that lets thousands of high school students design and build equipment for NASA's space programs. Now in their 18th year, HUNCH has created storage locker, galley table, sleeping bag liner, handrail, and hygiene kit. They've also created various culinary items for the astronauts to eat.
Before the HUNCH tape dispenser, astronauts simply stuck rolls of tape on a board.
The HUNCH tape dispenser can be operated with one hand.
#NASA #InternationalSpaceStation #HUNCH #ducttape #highschool
via collectSPACE