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Hidden gems from the NASA photo archive

SpeedyPhill
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Celebrating 60 years Breitling in space !
On May 24, 1962 US Navy Lt Scott Carpenter made the 2nd US orbital spaceflight mission onboard MA-7 "Aurora 7" (3 orbits lasting 4 hours 55 minutes) but he was the first to wear a real wrist watch, a 24 hour black dial Breitling Navitimer.
Wristwatch-wise the best bit about the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission are the pre-launch suit up photos showing Lt Carpenter's helmet, glove, boots, little mirrors, kneepad and his Breitling Navitimer chronograph.
(Photos: NASA)
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BREITLING-Carpenter.jpg
 
SpeedyPhill
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ROLEX_APOLLO.jpg

📖


50 years ago… Apollo 17 EVA training Rolex GMT-master 1675 Pepsi
During the first week of June 1972, the Apollo 17 moonwalkers Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt started extensive training lunar EVA procedures at the Cape. This involved LRV - Lunar Roving Vehicle training.
In these NASA-photo series commander Eugene Cernan was wearing a Rolex GMT-master Pepsi pilot’s wristwatch yellow-taped to a black strap over the left forearm of the A7LB space suit.
Although Rolex missed out on an exciting and historic advertising coup, Rolex watches still made it into both American and Russian space programmes as astronauts wore their privately purchased Rolex wristwatches such as GMT-master, Turn-O-Graph, DateJust, Submariner, Sea Dweller and the Daytona chronograph.
During the Apollo 17 mission, only CMP Ron Evans took his personal Rolex GMT-master 1675 in his PPK and asked Moonwalkers Cernan & Schmitt to take it to the surface of the Moon onboard Lunar lander “Challenger”.
Ron Evans’ Rolex GMT-master pilot watch was auctioned in October 2009 at Heritage auctions fetching US $ 131450.
👎
During Apollo 17 training Eugene Cernan used several watches. He even used his Gold Omega "Apollo 11 tribute" Speedmaster chronograph during LM procedures training.
Can we assume Cernan avoided using his Omega 105.003 (NASA #28) as that became his lucky charm chronograph already worn during Gemini IX (June 1966) and Apollo 10 (May 1969).
Most Omega fans that during Apollo 17 mission, Cernan wore this NASA #28 Speedmaster on steel mesh bracelet on the way to/from the Moon and more precisely underneath the Apollo spacesuit during 22 hours of lunar EVAs in the Taurus Littrow valley region. 1f9d0.png
In fact it was the Speedmaster Omega used to scan the 321 movement for the re-birth of the 321 Ed White version of the 21st century
 
ROLEX_APOLLO.jpg
W
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SamQue SamQue
I have a recent picture of Cpt. Bean with this gold Speedmaster. I will try and dig it out. Taken at a autograph event.
Now seems like a bargain at $50,000 after Collins gold speedmaster just sold for $765,000.
 
Omegafanman
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Not NASA, but I thought this shot of Alan Shepard with the folding golf club was cool…
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C674FB2D-5D9B-4744-997F-FA55B78F1EDD.jpeg 2E220ED4-D6C1-46A7-A058-1B1B0EBA0B7D.jpeg
Jones in LA
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Omegafanman Omegafanman
Not NASA, but I thought this shot of Alan Shepard with the folding golf club was cool…
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Is that Moon dust I see in the grooves on the club face? Has that been properly inventoried? 😜
 
Jones in LA
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This showed up on my Facebook feed. What were the chances of this encounter occurring???

And, do all former astronauts wear identifying jackets when they’re out in public?

8398F86D-C1AF-40EF-B34C-8178FB04374D.jpeg
 
DoctorEvil
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Jones in LA Jones in LA
This showed up on my Facebook feed. What were the chances of this encounter occurring???

And, do all former astronauts wear identifying jackets when they’re out in public?

8398F86D-C1AF-40EF-B34C-8178FB04374D.jpeg
By the look of things, they're standing in front of what looks to be a vintage fire engine. Harrison Schmitt could have been a special guest at some function or fundraiser so therefore he might want to wear mission patches on a flight jacket to look the part. I'm guessing the other guy is a former naval aviator and astronaut. I don't know if it's common in the US for veterans to wear their old flight jackets or field jackets in public with deployment/unit patches à la Top Gun.
 
jsducote
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DoctorEvil DoctorEvil
I'm guessing the other guy is a former naval aviator and astronaut. I don't know if it's common in the US for veterans to wear their old flight jackets or field jackets in public with deployment/unit patches à la Top Gun.
The 'other guy' is Mark Kelly, famous astronaut in his own right. Good luck finding a picture of him NOT in this jacket. I have a picture of my niece with Dr. Schmitt from a few months ago in Florida. He was wearing the same jacket.
 
unxsr
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This is an amazing thread. Glad I found it. Thanks for posting!
 
SpeedyPhill
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Check out our two articles on " 25 years Omega X-33 Speedmaster "
(Mondani June 2022 free online magazine + "Of Time & Space" article series)
#MoonwatchUniverse
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GLENN-X33.jpg
 
SpeedyPhill
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50 years ago Skylab-4 training:
1972 and USMC Commander Gerald Carr was training with the robust looking Movado Datachron HS360 automatic chronograph he got as a present from Thomas Stafford (who turned 92 yesterday).
Zenith " El Primero " ( the First ) high frequency automatic movement (36000 vibrations per hour = 5 Hertz), note the little date window at the 12 o'clock position !
Because the story itself is often more interesting than the "12-in-a-dozen" hardware without all the marketing crap !
(Photo: NASA)
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1972_SKYLAB.jpg
 
SpeedyPhill
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October 13, 2022 ... Ad Astra James McDivitt
We mourn the loss of Gemini and Apollo astronaut BrigGeneral Jim McDivitt.
This photo shows Jim McDivitt post-flight Gemini IV onboard recovery aircraft carrier USS WASP on June 7, 1965, still wearing one of two NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster 105.003-63 chronograph on a long black velcro.
(Photo: NASA)
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1965-Jim_Moonwatch.jpg
 
StudebakerHawk
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DoctorEvil DoctorEvil
By the look of things, they're standing in front of what looks to be a vintage fire engine. Harrison Schmitt could have been a special guest at some function or fundraiser so therefore he might want to wear mission patches on a flight jacket to look the part. I'm guessing the other guy is a former naval aviator and astronaut. I don't know if it's common in the US for veterans to wear their old flight jackets or field jackets in public with deployment/unit patches à la Top Gun.


I guess on Apollo 11, the "Other Guy" was Michael Collins?
 
Jones in LA
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SpeedyPhill SpeedyPhill
October 13, 2022 ... Ad Astra James McDivitt
We mourn the loss of Gemini and Apollo astronaut BrigGeneral Jim McDivitt.
This photo shows Jim McDivitt post-flight Gemini IV onboard recovery aircraft carrier USS WASP on June 7, 1965, still wearing one of two NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster 105.003-63 chronograph on a long black velcro.
(Photo: NASA)


And here's a shot of McDivitt (astronaut on right) wearing what appear to be two Speedmasters (@Mad Dog style), while waiting in the White Room before entering the Gemini-4 spacecraft.

McDivitt.jpg

Image credit: NASA



And some of the Gemini-4 cuisine......eeewwwwww.

9350145293_1a8ebd43f3_c.jpg

Image credit: NASA
Edited:
 
SpeedyPhill
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Indeed, 4 Speedmaster chronographs on Gemini IV ( by coincidence 5 watches on Gemini V : 3 Speedmaster, 1 Accutron & 1 Glycine Airman)
 
Geme81
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Jones in LA Jones in LA
While sitting at my desk during the lunch hour, I did a cursory search for photos in the official NASA image library that may be of interest to members of this forum. I was a bit surprised by how quickly I struck gold. As I search deeper in this vast library I'll post images that I consider to be true gems. Wherever possible I'll post full-resolution images, as it's often the smaller details that will be the most interesting.

I encourage other prospectors to join in the search and post your gems here!


Gem #1

Official description in image library:

Neil examines a rock sample during the Sierra Blanca trip. He is holding a geology hammer in his left hand and is wearing an Omega Speedmaster watch. Journal contributor Dan Buchan notes "his watch shows 1:12:33." 24 February 1969.

ap11-S69-25197HR_armstrong_geology.jpg
which was the Speedy reference? love this picture
 
Geme81
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SpeedyPhill SpeedyPhill
Indeed, 4 Speedmaster chronographs on Gemini IV ( by coincidence 5 watches on Gemini V : 3 Speedmaster, 1 Accutron & 1 Glycine Airman)
beautiful video full of contents, never saw before that White was dressing 4 watches!
 
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