Here's an astronaut costume I whipped together! This is the second version of the costume I've done and I plan to keep improving it. I first built it in 2016 and updated it in 2019.

Here's the original build plus the concept drawing I did when I was planning it.

The main things I wanted to do with the new version were update the helmet and the backpack. The original helmet was too big and clunky and got fogged up really easily. I set out to make a smaller helmet with a built in fan module for temperature and humidity regulation.

The helmest is just an acrylic bowl craft prop thingy and I rummaged up a computer fan to attach to it. Copious amounts of cardboard and duct tape were used in this project.

I built a "mother brain" into a breadboard that would control the fan plus all the fancy LEDs I planned to add to the backpack.

Testing out the fan module. It's a nice fit at the back of the helmet and as a bonus it lights up! Totally didn't intend that when I found that fan but it gives the whole thing a neat scifi look.

Here's the helmet mostly put together. The only thing I'll add later on is some black felt adhered to the inside.

The backpack is just more cardboard and duct tape with a bunch of craft foam covering it up. Here's when I originally put it together

In this updated rendition, I wanted to add some cool blinking lights to it. I tucked the breadboard mother brain into the top with the LEDs sticking up. I added some wax paper over the bright yellow one to give it a "glowing core" effect. The top section is actually a panel that opens up for maintainance and can be velcro locked shut.

Everything ready to go!!

Aaaaaand done!!! I was super stoked with how it all turned out. And it worked flawlessly!!

I had a small box attached to the left backpack strap with switches in it. One was a master switch that turned the whole system on and off and one was for controlling the fan. And the fan worked like a charm! Kept me cool in the helmet and stopped it from fogging up.

Next time around I think I'll try and add more stuff to the suit part of the comstume. It's not very exciting and is just a cheap coverall with a bunch of duct tape and a few patches. I'd love to come up with some scifi weaponry and flashing gadgets to add to it in the future.