Rich didn't need a helmet, the Novaforce was in his body.

Apparently, nobody knows...

@waezi2: Hm no I'm pretty sure Nova Richard needed the helmet.

@jonny_anonymous: In that case its a retcon.

@waezi2: Is that from the New Warriors?

@jonny_anonymous: Yes, and his series from the 70's.

The helmet back then was more like extra gadgets to the centurion, like breathing in space and stuff like that.

When Rich lost his powers after resigning from the Nova Corps, Night Thrasher reactivated them, and gave him a replica of his helmet. It was of coarse nowhere close to being as advance as a real Nova Corps helmet.

Must have been retconned then since I'm pretty sure in all his modern stuff he needed the helmet or at least he did after becoming Novea Prime

@jonny_anonymous: Not really, the entire Nova Force was inside of him. He could fly and send energy-burst without the helmet on. If not, he would have been killed by Diamondhead. He didn't even need to wear the helmet to talk with World-mind, unlike a normal member of the corps. But his helmet was still important, since it had specific weapons and functions to aid, like StarGates.

@jonny_anonymous: BTW, have you seen my retrospective of the New Warriors?