 What is the purpose of “touching helmets”?
The glowing semi-disk of Jupiter was more than half a million miles distant. His contract guaranteed a pilot's rating, but someone had neglected to specify the type of craft to be piloted. Sometimes there's no reason but them for sending a ship back with a crew instead of in an economy orbit. They found they could send back loaded ships by 'automatic' flight—that is, a long, slow, economical orbit and automatic signalling equipment. Then they're boarded approaching Earth's orbit and landed by pilots who don't have to waste their time making the entire trip." When the rock and ice are set to sliding, they come at you practically horizontally.
 To communicate without using the radio.
 To communicate without using the radio.  To share oxygen.  To maintain the vacuum seal of the suits.  To keep the dust out.