Do You Think the Speedmaster Will Continue to Be NASA's Choice?

Posts
5,250
Likes
48,297
Aren't these Speedmasters strapped to the external of the suits on the recent launch to the ISS?

Yes, those astronauts & cosmonaut are about to be launched into space aboard a Soyuz (Roscosmos) spacecraft.
 
Posts
5,250
Likes
48,297
I know that speedmasters pro's are still worn on EVA's they are sewn into the cuff with a cover on current US Spacesuits. Note that US EVA spacesuits may not be the same as the suits worn on take off and landing and designed and built by other space agencies.

I thought that X33's are required or at least certified and provided by the ESA, and is marked as certified by the ESA. NASA has a list of approved watches in space, there is a G shock DW5600C/E, the x33, speedy pro, and a Timex IRONMAN Datalink (various models).

Below is supposedly the current list.

Flight-certified by NASA for all manned space missions:
OMEGA Speedmaster Professional 3570.50.00

Flight-Qualified by NASA for space missions:
Omega Speedmaster Professional X-33
Casio G-Shock DW-5600C
Casio G-Shock DW-5600E
Casio G-Shock DW-5900
Casio G-Shock DW-6900
Casio G-Shock Master of G G-9000
Timex IRONMAN Triathlon Data Link

I've head about the protective cuffs on modern NASA spacesuits used for EVAs and recall seeing a photo or two of a cal.1861 Speedmaster on a spacesuit before the cover was folded over the watch. More recently, I've scoured photos of NASA astronauts donning and duffing EVA spacesuits and haven't been able to see evidence of a wrist chronograph on the suit.

Yes, the Speedmaster X-33 has been certified by the ESA in the same fashion that the cal.1861 Speedmaster has been certified by NASA. Interestingly, it appears that the X-33 is one of the most commonly worn wristwatches by NASA astronauts, either on the ground or aboard the ISS. See some of the later photos in this thread:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/hidden-gems-from-the-nasa-photo-archive.27812/page-8

It would be cool if someone could locate an official NASA list of wrist watches approved for use aboard the ISS. I do know that many watches not on the list above (in @Foo2rama 's post) have been, and are currently worn, aboard the ISS by NASA astronauts.
Edited:
 
Posts
41
Likes
32
There's a difference between what some astronauts have worn into space or brought along in their limited personal gear and what they classify as officially qualified.
As far as I know, the good old speedy is still the only one certified for EVA use by NASA.
 
Posts
6,333
Likes
11,711
Well, September 12, 2017, the crew members of Soyuz MS-06 wearing SpeedyPro chronographs / chronoscopes on their way to the ISS 😁
...
news-091217d-lg.jpg
 
Posts
364
Likes
476
I would imagine it's a case of "if it isn't broken, don't fix it". Admittedly I'm only a part time astronaut, but I'm fairly sure conditions in space haven't changed since the 60's. The prerequisites of a watch therefore wouldn't have changed. The build of the Moonwatch hasn't changed. Ipso facto, why would NASA dump it? It's been proven over several separate rigorous testings that it's the watch that works. NB, since NASA is a government agency, I don't imagine "sponsorship" comes into it..
 
Posts
6,333
Likes
11,711
Flight engineer Mark Vande Hei (top of the photo) even wore 3 wrist watches, two seem to be SpeedyPro chronographs
 
Posts
2,048
Likes
10,662
Flight engineer Mark Vande Hei (top of the photo) even wore 3 wrist watches, two seem to be SpeedyPro chronographs

In addition to the standard Speedmaster Acaba wears two X-33's, one being the X-33 Skywalker, and Vande Hei wears two X-33's as well.

EDIT - Vande Hei wears one X-33 and one X-33 Skywalker on a black NATO strap.
Edited: