Science Fiction Dictionary
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Latest By
Category:


Armor
Artificial Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work

"The writing is clicking away in my head and piling up, and unless I get it on paper somehow it's going to create uncomfortable pressure in my skull."
- Isaac Asimov

Space-Helmet  
  A 'fishbowl-style' head covering for space explorers.  

This is an early reference to the familiar 'fishbowl' style of space helmet, fortunately constructed of pure glassite, a strong, clear material. Not invulnerable, however; a strong blow from a metal bar would shatter the material.

Kent and Liggett prepared to don their space-helmets, and before entering the airlock, Kent turned to Krell.
Technovelgy from The Sargasso of Space, by Edmond Hamilton.
Published by Astounding Stories in 1931
Additional resources -

Here's some additional descriptive matter:

The debris among the pack's wrecks was just as varied, holding fragments of metal, dark meteors of differing size—and many human bodies. Among these were some clad in the insulated space-suits, with their transparent glassite helmets.

As far as I know, Hamilton tied with Manly Wade Wellman for the first use of this phrase, in September of 1931:

He took the glass-fronted space helmet and adjusted it on Thiana's head.
From The Disc-Men of Jupiter, by Manly Wade Wellman.

In space, it is of course important to have a secure seal for your space helmet. Hamilton solved this basic problem in the simplest possible way:

The airlock's inner door then slid open and the newcomers stepped into the ship's interior, unscrewing their transparent helmets as they did so.

We also have a nice illustration, from the cover of Astounding Science Fiction.


('transparent glassite helmets' from Sargasso of Space)

Manly Wade Wellman is usually credited with the creation of the phrase "space helmet" in his novella The Disc-Men of Jupiter. However, since both stories were published in September of 1931, I'd call it a tie, wouldn't you?

Compare with the transparent dome helmet from The Man from the Atom (1926) by G. Peyton Wertenbaker.

Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |

Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from The Sargasso of Space
  More Ideas and Technology by Edmond Hamilton
  Tech news articles related to The Sargasso of Space
  Tech news articles related to works by Edmond Hamilton

Space-Helmet-related news articles:
  - Supercut Helmet Oddity Space Helmet Mashup
  - iSphere Plastique Fantastique Face Mask Alternative
  - Beat Covid-19 With AIR By MicroClimate - At Last I Get My PAPR
  - BioVYZR Is Ready, Anti-Covid19 PAPR Lovers

Articles related to Space Tech
The First Space Warship For Space Force
Is China Mining Helium-3 On The Moon's Farside?
Solitary Black Hole Wanders In Space
Spaceplane From Virgin Atlantic

Want to Contribute an Item? It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add it here.

<Previous
Next>

Google
  Web TechNovelgy.com   

 

 

Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.

 

 

 

 

Science Fiction Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's   1950's
1960's   1970's
1980's   1990's
2000's   2010's

Science Fiction in the News

Animated Tumblebugs On Astounding Cover!
'Gaines and Harvey mounted tumblebugs, and kept abreast of the Cadet Captain...'

LingYuan Vehicle Roof Drones Now Available, ala Blade Runner 2049
Accompanied by a small selection of similar ideas from science fiction.

China Steals Strato Airship Design From Google App Engine
'...war-balloons, or, as it would be more correct to call them, navigable aerostats.'

The First Space Warship For Space Force
'Each of the electrical ships carried about twenty men...'

Biohybrid Jellyfish Explore The Ocean
As predicted, and detailed, by science fiction writers!

Should AIs and AI Robots Demand Rights?
'This robot is a creature... It is a manlike being. Therefore, like any other talking, thinking man, he is entitled to a court trial!'

Robot Learns Human Tool Usage By Imitation Learning
'I got one of those new electronic cameras...'

Companion Caregiver ChatGPT Dolls
'Every Artificial Friend is unique, right?'

'Pregnancy Humanoids' From China Replace Moms
'A great many of these synthetic babies were made...'

Man Builds 200 Foot Basement Firing Range
'The basement was huge... carved deep into the rock.'

More SF in the News

More Beyond Technovelgy

Home | Glossary | Science Fiction Timeline | Category | New | Contact Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™

Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.