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First Speedmasters in Space : Mercury Program The Speedmaster was first flight tested in space by Walter Schirra aboard Sigma 7, October 1962, it was not an official choice from NASA but Schirra's personnal choice (watch ref number CK2998 : the second model of Speedmaster) The watch works perfectly and was used as backup to the on-board clock. On-board timing devices in the Mercury capsule were internal to the spacecraft and wristwatches had not undergone specific testing, as the astronaut never left the protected environment of the spacecraft. On the last Mercury Mission, Gordon Cooper (watch ref number CK2998) wore both the Omega chronograph and a Bulova Accutron Astronaut in order to compare the accuracy of the manually-wound Omega to the then new electronic Bulova. The Omega was used to time the firing sequence of the retro rockets for re-entry.
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Walter Schirra in Mercury capsule Sigma 7 3 October 1962 |
with the Gemini and Apollo programs, astronauts would also need wrist timing devices to help them with EVA activities, such as spacewalks, photographic timing exposures, and timing fuel cell purges. Such a watch should be able to operate in the vacuum of space where there exists wide variances in temperature and pressure.
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Gemini Program In 1962, NASA decided to equip the astronauts of its future Gemini programm with a highly accurate, legible, resistant and reliable wrist chronograph. Donald K. Slayton, head of the flight Crew Operations , took action to select the chronographs : For the purpose of comparison tests, NASA purchased chronographs different brands from Corrigan's, a large retailer in Houston, Texas the following watches where purchased : Elgin, Benrus, Hamilton, Mido, Piccard, Omega, Bulova, Rolex, Longine and Gruen. Of theses only 3 where selected for the comparative evaluation testing : Longines, Omega and Rolex (Omega movement : Omega 321 , Rolex movement : Valjoux 72 , Longines : Longines 13 ZN) |
Edward White during first US EVA : Gemini IV 9 June 1965 |
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1965 first qualification program : Model tested : probably 105.012 no documents found for the moment to firmly state this , but for sure a Speedmaster equiped with Omega 321 caliber High temperature: 48 hours at 71º C followed by 30 minutes at 93º C. This under a pressure of 0,35atm and relative humidity not over 15%.
Results of the tests : Omega Speedmaster : gained 21 minutes during decompression test and lost 15 minutes during the acceleration test , the luminescence of the dial was lost during the test Rolex Daytona : stopped running on two occasions during the relative humidity test and during the high pressure test when the sweep second hand wraped and press against the other hands Longine Wittnauer : Crystal warped and disengaged during the high pressure test , same fault occured during the decompression test Final conclusion : the Omega chronograph performmed satisfactorily In 1965, NASA chose the Omega Speedmaster Professional as the official chronograph for the space program. With the first Gemini flight (GT3) with astronauts Grissom and Young, the Speedmaster Professional became part of the standard equipment issued to the astronauts. The watch was worn on the outside of the pressure suit with the use of a large black velcro band. The Speedmaster was worn during the first walk in space by an American, Edward White, in 1965. Two speedmasters were worn by each Gemini astronaut one set on mission time , the other one on GMT or Huston time. |
A Speedmaster during NASA Qualification
A speedmaster qualified for space flight |
1967 : Apollo Program
Due to its performance, reliability and success with the Gemini programm the Speedmaster Professional was selected again as the official chronograph by NASA for project Apollo.
Each astronaut wore one chronograph for spaceflight as a standard issue. Most, however, wore two during spaceflight. some astronauts have used other watches as backup only one speedmaster was issued to the astonauts.
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The First watch worn on the moon ? As the official chronograph for all Apollo missions, the Speedmaster Professional was worn by Frank Borman and crew on man's first journey to orbit the moon during Christmas of 1968 Anybody might think that the first watch on the moon was worn by Neil Armstrong ... but ...he did not wear his Speedmaster on his walk on the moon. An instrument had malfunctioned during the LEM's Decent and his Speedmaster was left in the LEM to serve as a replacement : "our mission timer was out, and we decided we had better leave one wristwatch inside in case it (the one taken outside) got damaged. We would have at least one working watch to back up the mission timer or to use in place of the mission timer, in case we could not get it going again" Armstrong, from the 1969 Technical Debrief Therefore the very first watch to be worn on the moon was Aldrin's Speedmaster Which Speedmaster models had Armstrong , Collins and Aldrin ? According
to the Early Manned Spaceflight Astronaut Equipment Division of Space
History Neil Armstrong's chronograph has the following information: Calibre 321, Case # 105.012, Movement # 24002XXX, NASA serial # 046 Mike Collins' chronograph has the following information: Calibre 321, Case # 145.012, Movement # 26552XXX, NASA Serial # 073 Buzz Aldrin Speedmaster has the following information: Calibre 321, Case # 145.012 Was the Speedmaster the only watch worn on the moon ? Apollo XV,
astronaut David Scott
from a 1996 letter - "I do not recall ever having looked at my
watch after egress. In the cabin after EVA-2, I noticed that the crystal
of my Omega had popped off sometime during the EVA. Therefore, on EVA-3,
I used my backup Waltham watch (which was) of a similar type. It worked
just fine during the even higher temperatures of EVA-3.]".
For sure at least the two models of Aldrin and Armstrong : 145.012 and 105.012 both fitted with the Omega 321 movement. Thomas Stafford wore a 105.003 during Apollo X mission he used the same watch as his previous missions in Gemini VI and Gemini IX Astronaut Ronald Evans, Apollo XVII wore a 105.012 or 145.012 NASA Serial #61 during his mission to the moon . Apollo XVII was the last mission to the moon in December 1972 and we could not find any evidence that later model of Speedmasters have been ever worn on the moon According to Omega : "Without having a firm confirmation from the NASA, it is obvious that the Moon Landing has been made exclusively with Speedmaster having the caliber 321 : tested by the NASA, hence if delivered in 1968, no chance to be on the trip...as they had more than enough watches, all equipped with the cal. 321 in stock !" Omega Vintage Information This information concerning NASA stock is confirmed by the document of 1972 stating on watch stock :"NASA has purchased a total of 97 Chronographs. Theses chronographs were used on the manned space missions beginning with Gemini III. Of the 97 watches, 17 could no longer be used or had been lost. In 1972, there where an inventory of 20 unused units at the flight center . The remaining 60 units had already been used or had undergone repairs to bring them up to specification." Conclusion : The first watch worn on the moon was a Speedmaster 145.012 fitted with the Omega 321 caliber (Aldrin's watch) There was at least one other watch brand worn on the moon : the David Scott's Waltham (Apollo XV) The 3 different types of Speedmaster known to have been worn on the moon are the 105.003, 105.012 and 145.012 all theses models are fitted with the Omega 321 caliber Occording to Omega informations no other types of Speedmaster have ever been on the moon , excluding the theory of a Speedmaster powered by the caliber 861 worn on the moon (at least as an official watch) There is no evidence of any Speedmaster 145.022 fitted with caliber 861 ever worn on the moon
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Aldrin on the surface of the moon 20 July 1969
Richard Gordon Apollo XII 14 November 1969
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So which model is "the moon watch" ? Funnilly the REAL "moon watch" is NOT the model which is engraved "the first watch on the moon"the 145.022, but the previous models both 105.003, 105.012 and 145.012 ! This does not mean that the 145.022 never flew on Apollo program : Donald K. Slayton watch (published in "Time Capsure") is clearly a 145.022 which flew during the Apollo-Soyuz mission
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Caseback of the Speedmaster 145.022
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Bulova vs Omega The use of Swiss chronographs in the American space program met with political resistance by a number of American watch makers, specifically the Bulova Watch Company. In the early days of the space program, Bulova did not make a chronograph, but makes a considerable pressure on NASA to use Bulova products. There were various meetings with NASA officials in order to promote the use of their products. The conclusion of the Apollo program was nearing with Apollo 17 scheduled for December 1972. As this date approached, the Bulova Watch Company lbecame increasingly concerned that its products be used for this last manned lunar mission. General Bradley (President of Bulova) having determined that it would be impossible to overturn the support for Omega, switched strategy of obtaining the highest polical support in the US governement. The wqtch issue was taken up to the congress which asked why the space program, undertaken by the nation, did not use a domestically produced watch Thus it was decided by the Administrator on NASA, James Fletcher, that if a suitable Bulova chronograph could be found, it would be used on the last Apollo mission. Bulova had insisted that chronographs chosen by NASA follow the policy of the "buy American" regulations estalished by the Senate. |
Bulova "Atronaut"
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Second qualification program In August of 1972, sixteen companies were notified by NASA that the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) planned to establish a Qualified Product List for possible future procurement of astronaut watches. This list included: Breitling, the Bulova , Elmore, Elgin, Forbes, Girard-Perregaux, Gruen, Hamilton, Heuer, LeJour, Longines-Wittnauer, Omega, Rolex, Seiko and Zodiac. Both Bulova and Omega were eager to comply with the "Buy American Act" which meant 51 precent of the products must be made or manufactured in the United States. In order to comply with this act, Omega had the stainless steel cases for the Speedmaster Professional manufactured in Luddington, Michigan by the Starr Watch Case Company. The crystals were shipped from Switzerland to the Starr Watch Company where they were installed. The completed case and crystal were then shipped to the Hamilton Watch Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for inspection and testing. The case and crystals were then shipped to Switzerland where the movements were installed and the entire watch was subjected to final inspection and environmental testing. The Bulova Watch Company submitted 16 chronographs for testing at this time. It was later learned that these watches were manufactured in Switzerland and that Bulova had purchased these chronographs through their subsidiary in Switzerland, Universal Geneve. The 16 chronographs were disassembled by Bulova in their research laboratory and a new crystal, a new machine case, specifically manufactured pin, a new crown and stem, a new face and dials and certain gaskets, washers and screws were replaced on each watch. The original movements and the back of each watch were retained. When confronted with the fact that these watches were, in actuality, Swiss chronographs, Bulova stated that they had invested $23,000 of research and development funds in developing and tooling the process. Thus, by utilizing these R&D costs, the watches were found to qualify under the "Buy American Act." |
Omega Speedmaster with Velcro Strap
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1972 qualification tests : Omega Model tested : 145.022 according Omega 1.
Vacuum testing 2.
Oxygen Atmosphere/Temperature Test 3.
Low Temperature 4.
Acceleration 5.
Random Vibration 6.
EMI Test 7.
Humidity Testing Results of the tests : During humidity test the bulova watch stopped three times, and stopped again during the acceleration test. According to the criteria, it must be conclued that the Bulova chronograph is not appropriate for the Apollo missions. |
Omega Speedmaster during Qualification tests
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1978 qualification tests : The topic of astronaut timepieces was quiet for several years until 1976 when Bulova became interested in supplying time pieces for the Space Shuttle missions. Once again, NASA initiated a competetive solicitation. A new deadline was extended several times so Bulova could participate. In September 1978, astronaut chronograph watches wishing to be considered for the space shuttle program underwent yet another round of prescribed space flight environmental testing. This included: Vacuum The test where acheived by two independant laboratories : one in Switzerland : the Neuchatel Observatory and the LSRH and one in the US : : Approved test laboratories of Chatsworth in California Omega submit 3 different models of watches for thoses tests : the Speedmaster Professional (cal 861) the Speedmaster "125" (cal 1041) and the Speedsonic (cal tuning fork 1255) The technical evaluation team determined that, of the chronographs submitted by Bulova for space flight environmental testing, no single watch was exposed to all environmental tests. Also, one watch failed in salt-fog testing and all 3 watches exposed to vacuum testing failed. Accordingly, the Bulova chronographs were determined to be in non-compliance with the specified environmental requirements. Once
again, the Omega Speedmaster professional chronograph was superior to
the other chronographs tested. The Speedmaster Professional met all environmental
requirements, had the highest technical score, and was offered at the
lowest price. Therefore, the Omega was accepted for procurement. The watch
was offered to NASA at the cost of $0.01 per watch. NASA bought a serie
of 56 watches after thoses tests Now that the shuttle flights have become operational, there are no longer requirements by NASA for specific watches to be worn during shuttle missions. With the exception of extravehicular activity, all astronauts are confined within the pressurized environment of the shuttle. Nonetheless, the Speedmaster continues to be used by many of the shuttle astronauts.
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The 3 models of Speedmasters presented to NASA for the 1978 tests
Speedmaster Professional
Speedmaster "125"
Speedmaster "Speedsonic"
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The Astronaut's
Speedmasters in museums :
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From top : - Speedmaster CK 2998 worn by Walter Schirra during Sigma 7 mission - Speedmaster 105.003 worn by by Thomas Stafford during Gemini VI, Gemini IX and Apollo X missions - Speedmaster 105.012 worn by Richard Gordon during Apollo XII mission
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The Astronaut's Speedmaster in Bienne Omega Museum (December 2004)
The Omega museum have 3 austronaut watches on display in December 2004 :
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Omega
Speedmaster 105.003 of Eugene Cernan, Captain of Apollo XVII mission (bezel
missing on the watch)
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Omega
Speedmaster 105.012 of Richard Gordon during Apollo XII mission
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Omega
Speedmaster 105.003 of Thomas Strafford. Caseback engraved : "P/N
SEB 12100039-001 - Astronaut Thomas P Strafford - Gemini 6 & 9 - Apollo
10" : one of the first speedmaster ever wear in space
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