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Can The 2021 Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional Still Be Considered A Moonwatch?
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Dan S
·I was curious about this so I did some googling...
So 1 mmHg (mm of mercury) is 1333.223684211 pascal.
Air pressure in space is 1.322 × 10-11 Pa.
So the -10mmHg requirement is more than enough to withstand the vacuum of space.
You are confounding absolute and gage pressure. The absolute pressure in space is practically zero, correct. Absolute pressure cannot be negative, so the specification clearly doesn't suggest that the watch should be exposed to an absolute pressure of negative 10mmHg. The negative pressure specification refers to "gage pressure" or a pressure difference compared to ambient (e.g. atmospheric) pressure, suggesting that the watch would be exposed to a pressure that is only 10 mmHg less than atmospheric pressure. We can speculate on the reasons for this, but obviously we don't know why the specs were written this way. It's a very modest requirement in the context of exposure to vacuum. To put it into context, atmospheric pressure is approximately 760 mmHg.
Since I'm an Engineering professor (and occasionally teach Fluid Mechanics), I didn't need to google this. 😉
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerYou are confounding absolute and gage pressure. The absolute pressure in space is practically zero, correct. Absolute pressure cannot be negative, so the specification clearly doesn't suggest that the watch should be exposed to an absolute pressure of negative 10mmHg. The negative pressure specification refers to "gage pressure" or a pressure difference compared to ambient (e.g. atmospheric) pressure, suggesting that the watch would be exposed to a pressure that is only 10 mmHg less than atmospheric pressure. We can speculate on the reasons for this, but obviously we don't know why the specs were written this way. It's a very modest requirement in the context of exposure to vacuum. To put it into context, atmospheric pressure is approximately 760 mmHg.
Since I'm an Engineering professor (and occasionally teach Fluid Mechanics), I didn't need to google this. 😉
Yes, this is very modest - something like 0.013 bar. I regularly test Speedmasters to -0.4 bar vacuum, and they will pass at -0.7 bar vacuum as well.
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cvalue13
·I’d like to see where Omega corporate publicly stated that the 3861 retains the “endorsement of NASA.” (I believe separately Omega corporate has said they subjected the 3861 to the standardized tests, etc.)
An OB salesperson, in contrast, have been known to say all kinds of things.
That much I do understand: though the distinction here, I think, is that those prior “update” versions have been issued by NASA to its astronauts and taken on missions/EVAs/etc., no?
For the reasons you state, it seems likely NASA may do the same in the future with the 3861, but that nonetheless remains to be seen in the future.
This doesn’t in any way diminish the 3861 as an incredible watch; but it does separate perhaps the marketing from the (present) facts.
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cvalue13
·Yes, this is very modest - something like 0.013 bar. I regularly test Speedmasters to -0.4 bar vacuum, and they will pass at -0.7 bar vacuum as well.
Do you happen to know on which test parameters the other watches tested by NASA fared worse? (Not because I take you to be a super-NASA fan, but instead perhaps because if your eyes ever passed across that info it might have stuck with you given your expertise.)
Sounds like there was a good chance all the watches did just fine on this vacuum test 😁
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerDo you happen to know on which test parameters the other watches tested by NASA fared worse? (Not because I take you to be a super-NASA fan, but instead perhaps because if your eyes ever passed across that info it might have stuck with you given your expertise.)
Sounds like there was a good chance all the watches did just fine on this vacuum test 😁
Again, not my wheelhouse, but I recall seeing something about hands deforming in some heat tests on other watches (hands contacted each other, stopping the watches), but that's as much as I absorbed on something that's not really a big interest for me.
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gbesq
·Again, not my wheelhouse, but I recall seeing something about hands deforming in some heat tests on other watches (hands contacted each other, stopping the watches), but that's as much as I absorbed on something that's not really a big interest for me.
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Nobel Prize
·Is it true that "Dr Edgar Mitchel took two Rolex GMT-Masters to the moon on Apollo 14 and wore one GMT-Master on the surface of the moon" ?
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Nobel Prize
·Do you happen to know on which test parameters the other watches tested by NASA fared worse? (Not because I take you to be a super-NASA fan, but instead perhaps because if your eyes ever passed across that info it might have stuck with you given your expertise.)
Sounds like there was a good chance all the watches did just fine on this vacuum test 😁
you can probably Google it too.
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gbesq
·I know there was another thread where the entire test results where posted.
you can probably Google it too.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerCan’t remember the exact names of the astronauts but I do remember seeing the pictures yes.
So they wore these on the outside of their suits while on the surface of the moon? My understanding was that these were personal watches that were worn inside the suits, so if there's a photo of an astronaut wearing a Rolex on the moon, I'd love to see that. If this is actually true, why isn't Rolex being Rolex and shouting it from the top of every roof they could find? Hard to imagine they would pass this up...
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gbesq
·So they wore these on the outside of their suits while on the surface of the moon? My understanding was that these were personal watches that were worn inside the suits, so if there's a photo of an astronaut wearing a Rolex on the moon, I'd love to see that. If this is actually true, why isn't Rolex being Rolex and shouting it from the top of every roof they could find? Hard to imagine they would pass this up...
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Nobel Prize
·So they wore these on the outside of their suits while on the surface of the moon? My understanding was that these were personal watches that were worn inside the suits, so if there's a photo of an astronaut wearing a Rolex on the moon, I'd love to see that. If this is actually true, why isn't Rolex being Rolex and shouting it from the top of every roof they could find? Hard to imagine they would pass this up...
Honestly I don't even think I have stated wether the watch was under or over. I just remember the astronaut wearing it.
Let me dig into the internet see if I can find the source.
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Nobel Prize
·That was fast. Apollo 14. Edgar D Mitchell
https://www.twentytwoten.com/326/apollo-14s-astronaut-wore-a-rolex-gmt-master-reference-1675/
https://www.twentytwoten.com/326/apollo-14s-astronaut-wore-a-rolex-gmt-master-reference-1675/
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Nobel Prize
·And a great source here that may be a little depressing to true moon watch fan boys https://www.swisswatchexpo.com/TheWatchClub/2020/07/06/nasa-astronauts-and-their-rolex-watches/
Seems like even James Lovell favored a Rolex. Uh Oh...Houston we do have a problem!!
Seems like even James Lovell favored a Rolex. Uh Oh...Houston we do have a problem!!
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derv
·I love my 3861. It’s a seriously awesome watch with an incredible lineage, but NASA isn’t using mechanical Speedmasters on the ISS, even during EVAs, and haven’t for quite a while. I doubt NASA would bother with certifying equipment that they don’t use, with Omega being the one with something to lose. Hence the, “we tested it to the same standards, just like in 1965” on the case back.
The fact that it could work fine during an EVA or on the lunar surface is cool enough for me, and with the new movement and upgrades, probably even better. The Russians are still flying Speedmasters pretty regularly, though who knows what model.
The fact that it could work fine during an EVA or on the lunar surface is cool enough for me, and with the new movement and upgrades, probably even better. The Russians are still flying Speedmasters pretty regularly, though who knows what model.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerThat was fast. Apollo 14. Edgar D Mitchell
https://www.twentytwoten.com/326/apollo-14s-astronaut-wore-a-rolex-gmt-master-reference-1675/
Thanks - confirms no photo of a Rolex being worn on the moon. For a minute I thought Rolex's marketing machine had really effed up!!
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Nobel Prize
·Thanks - confirms no photo of a Rolex being worn on the moon. For a minute I thought Rolex's marketing machine had really effed up!!
Still given the other post I'd say they did miss a little as they could have definitely worked the angle. I guess on a race to space the shots of the watches worn outside the suit would have won so perhaps that's why they didn't try to start a fight.
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerYea.
Still given the other post I'd say they did miss a little as they could have definitely worked the angle. I guess on a race to space the shots of the watches worn outside the suit would have won so perhaps that's why they didn't try to start a fight.
Well, all Omega would have to do is point out how the Rolex failed in the NASA testing, so it wouldn't have been much of a fight...probably smart on the part of Rolex not to hand Omega that opportunity on a silver platter.
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Nobel Prize
·Well, all Omega would have to do is point out how the Rolex failed in the NASA testing, so it wouldn't have been much of a fight...probably smart on the part of Rolex not to hand Omega that opportunity on a silver platter.
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