Vacuum mask

A vacuum mask was a piece of equipment designed to allow the wearer to operate in vacuum conditions.

It was an emergency measure to protect the wearer against a loss of atmosphere aboard a spacecraft or space station. When sensors detected a lack of breathable atmosphere, the mask automatically supplied the wearer with ten minutes of breathable air. It could not be worn simultaneously with a standard helmet or face-mask.

It was commonly worn or carried by people who frequently worked in space. Although they could not replace space suits, vacuum masks were known to save crew-members trapped in compartments that lost atmosphere.

Text and facts from the “Vacuum mask” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.