From Roasting Pan to Space Helmet

A conversation with my child Friday after school:

Child: I need an entire astronaut suit, complete with space helmet, for my History Fair project.

Me: Okay. When do you need it?

Child: Tuesday.

Crap.

The suit itself is easy. White long sleeved shirt. White pants. White shoes. Done.

Space helmet? No idea how to construct one of those babies.

I thought about a motorcycle helmet covered with white duct tape. Then I ruled it out because I don't have a motorcycle helmet and those people I know that do have one … well they don't want it covered in white duct tape to look like a space helmet.

I thought about a globe covered with white duct tape. Then I ruled it out because I don't own a globe.

Then I had a lightbulb moment. A globe shaped lighting fixture! Lightbulb moment. Get it? Lightbulb? Lighting fixture?

Tap tap tap. Is this thing on?

The round light fixture brought to mind a goldfish bowl. Minus the fish, of course. And minus the water, too.

None of these ideas really worked, so I did the only thing that I know to do in these types of situations: I emailed NASA to see what the going rate for an astronaut helmet is these days.

I am still awaiting a reply.

Taking matters back into my own hands, I grabbed my purse and keys, drove to Target, and strolled up and down the aisles looking for inspiration to strike.

I get almost all of my good ideas at Target.

I was wandering through the housewares department when it hit me: a disposable aluminum roasting pan.

Surely I can squish a rectangular roasting pan into a round astronaut helmet. No problem.

99 cents later the roasting pan was on my kitchen table, ready to be squished and molded.

It was harder than expected.

A lot harder.

A disposable aluminum roasting pan ain't your momma's tin foil, folks. It's tough and rigid and can hold a twenty pound turkey.

It put up quite a fight.

The end results required the use of one determined husband, one hour, one rubber mallet, one basketball, and one roll of white duct tape.

Ta da!

I think it looks out of this world.

Snort, snort. Giggle, giggle.

Get it? A space helmet that looks out of this world. A space helmet?

Hello? Anyone?

Tap tap tap. Is this thing on?

*crickets

Oh well. It's still cool looking helmet.

Pin It Now!