85 years ago, another Swiss invention "Velcro" ... and NASA

SpeedyPhill · Jul 30, 2026

Last but not least, a NASA Skylab space station post as this Project seems to be neglected...
This 1973 photo shows SL-2 astronaut Dr Joseph "Joe" Kerwin wearing a small rectangular box attached to the Velcro of his NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster 145.012.
This box was a passive personal radiation dosimeter tag worn by the Skylab crew to track/monitor radiation exposure levels in different areas of the space station...
And yes, it has cartoon character Snoopy with pilot scraf on it...
Note the running chronograph hand!
(photo: NASA)
.

J!m · Jul 30, 2026

They had the Skylab trainer open on the floor in Houston. I went inside...

No idea if that is still there (probably) and accessible to visitors. But it was pretty cool and a lot larger than one might expect.

Omegafanman · Aug 2, 2026

SpeedyPhill
@spacemission
Nope, Rolex were always worn on the orginal steel oyster bracelet, even today!
Exception was William Pete Knight on two X-15 flights (188 & 190) in 1967, wearing his GMT-master 1675 on the 44 cm nylon webbing strap especially made for the test pilots of the hypersonic flight research program.
Amazingly, this Apollo 17 photo shows Eugene Cernan wearing a Rolex 1675 with steel oyster bracelet partially fixed upon a Velcro strap with duct tape during lunar-EVA training for Apollo 17 at KSC Florida, June 1972.
(photo: NASA)

@SpeedyPhill - some amazing details you are showing here. Necessity is the mother of invention. Had never seen the Pete Conrad and Wally Schirra strap shots before, amazing stuff.

Omegafanman · Aug 2, 2026

Omegafanman
I have not checked for a while but I am sure on the manifests there were different length Velcro straps, depending on what suits you needed to wear on the mission. A lot of thought went into small details. Great information and research as always @SpeedyPhill

This thread has prompted me to revisit this topic, My memory was off but there is an extra mystery to be solved... The various mission manifests show 3x watches and 3x straps. The spec might change but that is the sequence. There are crew preference bags that allow for 'extras' in terms of weight of course. Apollo 17 is different. 3x watches but 4x watchbands. With one in the CMP pocket. Ron Evans made a film recovery deep space walk and did wear a different suit, but not so different the suit would need a different strap? Apollo 17 did carry the Command Module Heat Flow and Convection (HFC) experiment, whcih used an 861 Speedmaster (Bezel removed) and was filmed. The mission instructions include specifics on how to fit and set the watch to that experiment - (Wind watch and record time vs GET, Mount watch to lineal unit support bracket (orange colour code)..0:00 Reset stopwatch and start.). I wonder if the extra strap was so he could wear the 861 / use it as a back-up watch. Why did they issue him an extra strap?

Omegafanman · Aug 2, 2026

I was clearly in full geek mode 7 years ago but this covers the HFC experiment, and has the only close up footage of a Speedmaster running during the Apollo moon missions.

SpeedyPhill · Aug 4, 2026

Any ideas if the owner/keeper of this website is on the forum?
.
https://www.seb12100030.com/

J!m · Aug 4, 2026

This is what I have on my 67 "Tom Stafford" speedmaster...

https://lunareplicas.com/collection...ec-velcro-gray-green-tape-p-n-seb12100030-210

I appreciate the OCD of the others but saving $100 for groceries is appreciated...

Kizzi · Aug 5, 2026

Hi Phill
Thanks for heads up on this thread. First off I must congratulate you on curating some amazing photos of the Apollo program, most I've never seem before. If may, though, there are some inaccuracies.

The Omega Museum example wasn't made by NASA and although the providence is uncertain it is generally agreed it uses Swiss Army camouflage!

SCHIRRA-up STAFFORD-middle-GORDON -bottom.webp

Also, the "NASA a Human Adventure" exhibition uses one made specifically for the exhibition. This picture shows the label printing better, it says " OMEGA Speedmaster Cal. 321" and "Apollo mission Chronograph".

The green shade is modern OD#7 olive drab. These other replicas from www.seb12100030.com (next to the originals) show the vintage shades better

Kizzi · Aug 5, 2026

I just noticed the Heritage Auctions pic of Charlie Duke's wrist mirror and watchstrap didn't load 🙁

SpeedyPhill · Aug 5, 2026

@Kizzi
Thanks for Your interesting reply, edited the Apollo 12 photo text... 👍
.
There're lots of rarely seen NASA photos, just try and attend one of my upcoming talks:
"" Not Your Average NASA photos ""
😉

spacemission · Aug 5, 2026

SpeedyPhill
@spacemission
Nope, Rolex were always worn on the orginal steel oyster bracelet, even today!
Exception was William Pete Knight on two X-15 flights (188 & 190) in 1967, wearing his GMT-master 1675 on the 44 cm nylon webbing strap especially made for the test pilots of the hypersonic flight research program.
Amazingly, this Apollo 17 photo shows Eugene Cernan wearing a Rolex 1675 with steel oyster bracelet partially fixed upon a Velcro strap with duct tape during lunar-EVA training for Apollo 17 at KSC Florida, June 1972.
(photo: NASA)

A great tool watch.

SpeedyPhill · Aug 11, 2026

Despite a dozen frustrating photos for one really interesting one, the latter can be amazing !
#VELCRO #AlaskaIII #NASA
(photos: NASA)
.

85 years ago, another Swiss invention "Velcro" ... and NASA

SpeedyPhill

J!m

Omegafanman

Omegafanman

Omegafanman

SpeedyPhill

J!m

Kizzi

Kizzi

SpeedyPhill

spacemission

SpeedyPhill

Similar threads

I bought this "Omega" bracelet years ago, and it fits nicely

Forstner Komfit and JB Champion U.S.A. Bracelets

Prices of 20 or so years ago and restoration costs

10 years ago... Soyuz commander long black velcro fail & a sole CASIO G-Shock

50 years ago... Apollo 11 safe return of crew & Moonbound Speedmaster

June 1, 1965...The Speedmaster is "Officially" Flight Qualified 60 Years Ago Today