# Head Gear in Aviation/Aerospace

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-gear-in-aviation-aerospace/152871>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 5, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-gear-in-aviation-aerospace/152871 "2003-02-05T03:41:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-gear-in-aviation-aerospace/152871/1 "2003-02-05T03:41:52Z")

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I noticed in footage of the astronauts “suiting up”, they were slipping into and donning a piece of material on their heads much like what the Red Baron might have worn…but (in modern today) under the space helmet.

What is this, and what is the purpose? I WAG to absorb sweat, perhaps? Anyone else notice this and wonder what this is?

- Jinx

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**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-gear-in-aviation-aerospace/152871/2 "2003-02-05T03:43:18Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Jinx \*  
> **…but (in modern today) under the space helmet…**

Oops! I was editing and re-editing too fast!

I mean, “in modern day” :o

- Jinx 😃

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**Author:** ![bradministrator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a698b9/32.png) [@bradministrator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bradministrator)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-gear-in-aviation-aerospace/152871/3 "2003-02-05T04:22:53Z")

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Was it fabric? My WAG is that it’s flame retardant, like racecar drivers wear.

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**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-gear-in-aviation-aerospace/152871/4 "2003-02-05T04:27:38Z")

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They got used to wearing those things back when Eddie Rickenbacher wore them and thought it was cool. It never dawned on anyone that it wasn’t cool anymore. Perhaps it will change now.

🙂 [sup]Orville wore a top hat.[/sup]

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**Author:** ![hobbes730](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/97f17d/32.png) [@hobbes730](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobbes730)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/head-gear-in-aviation-aerospace/152871/5 "2003-02-05T04:29:41Z")

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It’s called a “snoopy-cap,” or more officially the communications carrier assembly. It houses things like the microphone and headphones for communication, caution/warning tones, etc…