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
"All fiction is propaganda, and the fiction we like is the propaganda we believe in, and the fiction we don't like is the propaganda we don't believe in."
- Samuel R. Delany
 |
| 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:
As far as I know, Hamilton tied with Manly Wade Wellman for the first use of this phrase, in September of 1931:
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:
We also have a nice illustration, from the cover of Astounding Science Fiction.
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.
He took the glass-fronted space helmet and adjusted it on Thiana's head.
From The Disc-Men of Jupiter, by Manly Wade Wellman.
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.
('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
| 'If Anyone Is Watching Earth...' |
| Cloud Of Space Rubbish From China's Long March Rocket |
| ESA's Draco To Study Heat Of Reentry |
| The United States Space Academy Is Official |
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> |
|
|
|
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
'Our study of your race has convinced us that you are not fitted to leave your planet in the present state of your civilization.'
'...the spreading beam of the deranging ray struck them, and Then one toppled and fell. Then another.'
'Within seconds the material was spread out over fifty yards, in a matter of hours it might occupy several cubic miles of space...'
'The men are dead, but their acquired wisdom lives on and I am the beneficiary.'
'Young people found the driverless car admirable for petting.'
'After twenty generations of shillyshallying...'
