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TLIGuy
路If there is one thing we do extremely well here it's posting pictures of astronauts wearing Speedmasters. While these pictures are interesting to look at, I thought I would share a bit about the importance of the images of astronauts wearing watches and how those images are used to determine the times specific events happen during a mission or to simply figure out where a picture should be inserted into the mission image library.
While many images are available from multiple sources online, the most concise and most referenced resource is the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal. The ALSJ contains the complete library of mission photography, mission transcripts, as well and astronaut commentary and their oral histories for all six of the lunar missions.
Mission by mission the image library contains thousands of images. Each image will have an image number as well as a description of what each image is. Within those descriptions is where, on countless occasions, you will find the reference to a "watch" Using the key word "watch" it is easy to search the images and find key images of the Speedmaster in use, and on some occasions, how the researcher used that image to determine the estimated time the picture was taken or the time the astronaut was doing the specific task in the image.
Before I get into some of the images you are most familiar with let me start with the following about images and audio transcripts in the ALSJ.
1) While searching only the image galleries will you see the word "Speedmaster" in conjunction with the word "watch"
2) If you search mission audio transcripts in the ALSJ you will not see the word "Speedmaster" spoken by an astronaut . All references to time events are referred to as "watch, stop watch, and chronograph" For example you will never see "Hey Jack, when we Fred and I start the burn I want you to use your Omega Speedmsater and time it for 14 seconds."
3) All the images below are from the public NASA archives and for the sake of keeping the thread and images uniform I have cropped them to 5"x 7" keeping the relevant watch part.
So off to the ALSJ image archives -
Below are images from 5 of the 6 lunar missions. No relevant watch images are referenced in the Apollo 13 archives. Each image is accompanied by the description referencing the watch (highlighted) from the image caption as found in the ALSJ.
Apollo 11 -
S69-25197 - 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. Scan courtesy NASA Johnson.
S69-32234 - Neil (left) and Buzz during training in Houston. Note the OPS activator on the left side of Buzz's RCU mockup and the camera bracket on the front. Neil's pressure gauge and Omega watch can be seen on his right forearm. Buzz has a strap-on checklist on the gauntlet of his left glove. Journal Contributor Karl Dodenhoff notes that both Neil and Buzz are wearing protective covers on the front of the suit where we would normally see the various connection ports for oxygen and water. Photo is dated 23 April 1969 but was undoubtedly taken on 22 April 1969 during the "Lunar Timeline Demo for Dr. (George) Mueller". Scan courtesy NASA Johnson.
AS11-36-5390 (OF300) - Neil took this picture of Buzz during their initial inspection of the LM at about 057:03. Journal Contributor David Sander notes that "Buzz is wearing his intravehicular suit, a specially made set of garments designed to be as flame retardant as the rest of the ship, and made from the same fabric as the outer layer of the spacesuits". Paolo Attivissimo notes that Buzz's watch reads 5:35 (Houston time), which is 57:03 GET (Ground Elapsed Time)
Apollo 12 -
AS12-48-7071 (OF300) - 133:15:32 Al's picture of Pete taking Al's picture. Pete is holding the extension handle in his left hand. Note that he has re-attached the scoop. His cuff checklist can be seen on his left wrist and is open to one of the pages on which the backup crew has pasted a picture of **Playboy Playmate. Pete's watch is on his sleeve between his pressure gauge and his elbow. The LM is in the background, over Pete's left shoulder. A labeled detail shows the upper straps holding the Surveyor Parts Bag on the back of Pete's PLSS. Compare with a relevant pre-flight photo.
AS12-49-7278 (OF300) - 133:01:00 This superb picture shows Al holding the vacuum-sealed Special Environmental Sample Container (SESC). Photographer Pete Conrad has just poured soil into the container. We can see that it is nearly full. The lid is hanging by a cord from the bottom. This photo gives us a good view of the top of Al's Hasselblad camera and the cuff checklist and watch on his left sleeve. Note also that reflections of Pete and the Hand Tool Carrier are visible in Al's visor. Pete took this photo during the stop at Sharp Crater. It is also cited in the comments at 121:31:45. A discussion of the f-stop decal on the top of Al's film magazine follows 132:59:04. Finally, Al's checklist is open to pages 12 and 13 as can be seen in a detail by Harald Kucharek.
**To keep it family friendly the image of Al's Playmate can be viewed here here.
Apollo 14 -
Watch Detail (OF300) - Lennie Waugh has captured a detail which gives us an excellent view of Al's Omega Speedmaster Watch, which reads approximately 9:00. Waugh notes that the picture was taken at about transcript time of 113:52. This time does not reflect a 40 minute 2.9 second mission clock update performed at 54:53:36 but, rather, is the time since the actual launch at 21:03 GMT/UTC on 31 January 1971. Consequently, the photo was taken at about 14:55 GMT/UTC on 5 February, or 08:55 US Central Standard Time. The astronauts kept their watches on Houston time, as confirmed by this detail.
AS14-66-9230 (OF300) - 113:52:32 Ed took this photo of Al out the right-hand, LMP window. Al is shading his eyes, probably looking up toward Cone Crater. Note the red stripeon the top of Al's helmet. This and similar stripes on his arms and legs help distinguish him from Ed, who has no stripes. This photo provides good views of Al's cuff checklist, his Omega watch, and the strap-on pocket on his left thigh.
Apollo 15 -
AS15-90-12224 (OF300) - 145:34:52 Jim has stepped to his left to take this stereo companion to 12223. Dave has finished his pictures and has the tongs open in his right hand. Note the sample bags hanging from the bottom of his camera. Ron Wells has provided a detail ( a15det12224.jpg ) showing Dave's watch. Ron writes that he increased the contrast in the lefthand version and used a contouring program to search for edges in producing the righthand version. A group of ALSJ Contributors see the watch reading either 9:08 to 9:10 or 10:08 to 10:12. Readers can make their own assessments. On the assumption that Jim took 12224 just before his reply to Dave at 145:34:52, the time in Houston is about 10:09 CDT on the morning of 1 August 1971.
To take this image one step further the researcher enhances the image to arrive at the time. Ron writes that he increased the contrast in the lefthand version and used a contouring program to search for edges in producing the righthand version.
Apollo 16 -
AS16-108-17628 (OF300) - 146:18:02 Down-Sun "before" of the white soil at Station 6. John's watchband, his watch, and his wrist mirror are called out in a labeled detail.
AS16-117-18826 (OF300) - 169:27:30 Down-Sun "before" of the second Station 10 Prime rake site, taken just before John started raking. In a detail, note the dirt John kicked forward as he took a step with his right foot. Most of the particles have moved out the same distance from his boot. In the wider view, note the rougher texture of the surface where John and Charlie have walked. The mortar pack with its red warning flag can be seen beyond the righthand bottom of John's PLSS while the PSE is on the other side of him, just above the rake. John's watch is set on Houston time and reads 1:20 or 1:21. A transcript time of 169:27:30 corresponds to 1:21:30 on 23 April 1972. Transcript times are known to have absolute uncertainties of a minute or more, so the agreement is quite satisfactory. In the distance, just under the corner of John's PLSS, we see the warning flag on the mortar pack.
Apollo 17 -
AS17-134-20387 (OF300) - 118:26:38 EVA-1 at the LM. Photo of Gene with the Earth above him. Note the antenna on the top of his OPS and the OPS activation ring mounted on the right side of his chest-mounted RCU. Gene is holding the lower corner of the American flag. Note the checklist on the top of his glove, and the watch strap on his arm, just above the top of his glove. Ken Glover notes that Gene's face ( 236k ) can be seen thru the gold visor in this picture and in 20386.
AS17-140-21386 (OF300) - EVA-3 at the LM. This is the best of the three portraits that Gene took of Jack at the start of EVA-3. Yuri Krasilnikov notes that, as can be seen in a detail, Earth can be seen over the South Massif in reflection from Jack's visor. Indeed, it's visible in the entire series of tourist photos: 21385 to 21391. The best Earth images are in 21386 and 21391. A detailshows Jack's watch and watch band on his left arm and his wrist-mirror band on his right arm.
Photo addendum -
These are just a few of the many Speedmaster watch references made in the ALSJ. Also, just for fun you will find the word "Rolex" in the image library but I'll let you find them if you're interested.
Here ends the lesson for the day.
While many images are available from multiple sources online, the most concise and most referenced resource is the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal. The ALSJ contains the complete library of mission photography, mission transcripts, as well and astronaut commentary and their oral histories for all six of the lunar missions.
Mission by mission the image library contains thousands of images. Each image will have an image number as well as a description of what each image is. Within those descriptions is where, on countless occasions, you will find the reference to a "watch" Using the key word "watch" it is easy to search the images and find key images of the Speedmaster in use, and on some occasions, how the researcher used that image to determine the estimated time the picture was taken or the time the astronaut was doing the specific task in the image.
Before I get into some of the images you are most familiar with let me start with the following about images and audio transcripts in the ALSJ.
1) While searching only the image galleries will you see the word "Speedmaster" in conjunction with the word "watch"
2) If you search mission audio transcripts in the ALSJ you will not see the word "Speedmaster" spoken by an astronaut . All references to time events are referred to as "watch, stop watch, and chronograph" For example you will never see "Hey Jack, when we Fred and I start the burn I want you to use your Omega Speedmsater and time it for 14 seconds."
3) All the images below are from the public NASA archives and for the sake of keeping the thread and images uniform I have cropped them to 5"x 7" keeping the relevant watch part.
So off to the ALSJ image archives -
Below are images from 5 of the 6 lunar missions. No relevant watch images are referenced in the Apollo 13 archives. Each image is accompanied by the description referencing the watch (highlighted) from the image caption as found in the ALSJ.
Apollo 11 -
S69-25197 - 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. Scan courtesy NASA Johnson.
S69-32234 - Neil (left) and Buzz during training in Houston. Note the OPS activator on the left side of Buzz's RCU mockup and the camera bracket on the front. Neil's pressure gauge and Omega watch can be seen on his right forearm. Buzz has a strap-on checklist on the gauntlet of his left glove. Journal Contributor Karl Dodenhoff notes that both Neil and Buzz are wearing protective covers on the front of the suit where we would normally see the various connection ports for oxygen and water. Photo is dated 23 April 1969 but was undoubtedly taken on 22 April 1969 during the "Lunar Timeline Demo for Dr. (George) Mueller". Scan courtesy NASA Johnson.
AS11-36-5390 (OF300) - Neil took this picture of Buzz during their initial inspection of the LM at about 057:03. Journal Contributor David Sander notes that "Buzz is wearing his intravehicular suit, a specially made set of garments designed to be as flame retardant as the rest of the ship, and made from the same fabric as the outer layer of the spacesuits". Paolo Attivissimo notes that Buzz's watch reads 5:35 (Houston time), which is 57:03 GET (Ground Elapsed Time)
Apollo 12 -
AS12-48-7071 (OF300) - 133:15:32 Al's picture of Pete taking Al's picture. Pete is holding the extension handle in his left hand. Note that he has re-attached the scoop. His cuff checklist can be seen on his left wrist and is open to one of the pages on which the backup crew has pasted a picture of **Playboy Playmate. Pete's watch is on his sleeve between his pressure gauge and his elbow. The LM is in the background, over Pete's left shoulder. A labeled detail shows the upper straps holding the Surveyor Parts Bag on the back of Pete's PLSS. Compare with a relevant pre-flight photo.
AS12-49-7278 (OF300) - 133:01:00 This superb picture shows Al holding the vacuum-sealed Special Environmental Sample Container (SESC). Photographer Pete Conrad has just poured soil into the container. We can see that it is nearly full. The lid is hanging by a cord from the bottom. This photo gives us a good view of the top of Al's Hasselblad camera and the cuff checklist and watch on his left sleeve. Note also that reflections of Pete and the Hand Tool Carrier are visible in Al's visor. Pete took this photo during the stop at Sharp Crater. It is also cited in the comments at 121:31:45. A discussion of the f-stop decal on the top of Al's film magazine follows 132:59:04. Finally, Al's checklist is open to pages 12 and 13 as can be seen in a detail by Harald Kucharek.
**To keep it family friendly the image of Al's Playmate can be viewed here here.
Apollo 14 -
Watch Detail (OF300) - Lennie Waugh has captured a detail which gives us an excellent view of Al's Omega Speedmaster Watch, which reads approximately 9:00. Waugh notes that the picture was taken at about transcript time of 113:52. This time does not reflect a 40 minute 2.9 second mission clock update performed at 54:53:36 but, rather, is the time since the actual launch at 21:03 GMT/UTC on 31 January 1971. Consequently, the photo was taken at about 14:55 GMT/UTC on 5 February, or 08:55 US Central Standard Time. The astronauts kept their watches on Houston time, as confirmed by this detail.
AS14-66-9230 (OF300) - 113:52:32 Ed took this photo of Al out the right-hand, LMP window. Al is shading his eyes, probably looking up toward Cone Crater. Note the red stripeon the top of Al's helmet. This and similar stripes on his arms and legs help distinguish him from Ed, who has no stripes. This photo provides good views of Al's cuff checklist, his Omega watch, and the strap-on pocket on his left thigh.
Apollo 15 -
AS15-90-12224 (OF300) - 145:34:52 Jim has stepped to his left to take this stereo companion to 12223. Dave has finished his pictures and has the tongs open in his right hand. Note the sample bags hanging from the bottom of his camera. Ron Wells has provided a detail ( a15det12224.jpg ) showing Dave's watch. Ron writes that he increased the contrast in the lefthand version and used a contouring program to search for edges in producing the righthand version. A group of ALSJ Contributors see the watch reading either 9:08 to 9:10 or 10:08 to 10:12. Readers can make their own assessments. On the assumption that Jim took 12224 just before his reply to Dave at 145:34:52, the time in Houston is about 10:09 CDT on the morning of 1 August 1971.
To take this image one step further the researcher enhances the image to arrive at the time. Ron writes that he increased the contrast in the lefthand version and used a contouring program to search for edges in producing the righthand version.
Apollo 16 -
AS16-108-17628 (OF300) - 146:18:02 Down-Sun "before" of the white soil at Station 6. John's watchband, his watch, and his wrist mirror are called out in a labeled detail.
AS16-117-18826 (OF300) - 169:27:30 Down-Sun "before" of the second Station 10 Prime rake site, taken just before John started raking. In a detail, note the dirt John kicked forward as he took a step with his right foot. Most of the particles have moved out the same distance from his boot. In the wider view, note the rougher texture of the surface where John and Charlie have walked. The mortar pack with its red warning flag can be seen beyond the righthand bottom of John's PLSS while the PSE is on the other side of him, just above the rake. John's watch is set on Houston time and reads 1:20 or 1:21. A transcript time of 169:27:30 corresponds to 1:21:30 on 23 April 1972. Transcript times are known to have absolute uncertainties of a minute or more, so the agreement is quite satisfactory. In the distance, just under the corner of John's PLSS, we see the warning flag on the mortar pack.
Apollo 17 -
AS17-134-20387 (OF300) - 118:26:38 EVA-1 at the LM. Photo of Gene with the Earth above him. Note the antenna on the top of his OPS and the OPS activation ring mounted on the right side of his chest-mounted RCU. Gene is holding the lower corner of the American flag. Note the checklist on the top of his glove, and the watch strap on his arm, just above the top of his glove. Ken Glover notes that Gene's face ( 236k ) can be seen thru the gold visor in this picture and in 20386.
AS17-140-21386 (OF300) - EVA-3 at the LM. This is the best of the three portraits that Gene took of Jack at the start of EVA-3. Yuri Krasilnikov notes that, as can be seen in a detail, Earth can be seen over the South Massif in reflection from Jack's visor. Indeed, it's visible in the entire series of tourist photos: 21385 to 21391. The best Earth images are in 21386 and 21391. A detailshows Jack's watch and watch band on his left arm and his wrist-mirror band on his right arm.
Photo addendum -
These are just a few of the many Speedmaster watch references made in the ALSJ. Also, just for fun you will find the word "Rolex" in the image library but I'll let you find them if you're interested.
Here ends the lesson for the day.
Edited:
