This trip was awesome. When you walk into the old mission control you see the Mission Speedmasters.

 

Bumping an old thread but I recently visited the Johnson Space Centre on a vacation, and agree the trip is awesome. The mission collection is fantastic but it seems I was the only watch geek on the tour getting excited about them.

My personal favourite was the Speedmaster Professional XXL. Everything IS bigger in Texas

 

All the mission watches.

 

Where is this exactly???

 

Why do they have so many Speedmasters gathered there? It is a space center not an Omega museum? Are they lended or owned by the center?

 

The display of the Mission watches is as you enter the Mission Control building (which is part of the Tram and Level 9 tours) of the Johnson Space Centre in Houston http://spacecenter.org/visitor-information/

I would guess - but it is just a guess - they were either gifted to Nasa or are on loan from Omega. I think I read once that not all of the 50 (40 +5 +5) cases were sold and Omega held onto some but of course I can't seem to find the page now. Possibly one of the unsold cases?

 

And as to why have them gathered there - why not! It celebrates the missions run from Mission Control at Houston.

Omega branding was prominent throughout the Centre. Even the dummies in the Gemini capsule were wearing Speedmasters although I was glad to see they were modern examples and not cal.321 pieces.

 

Highly recommend a visit to Johnson for anyone interested in the space program and Speedmasters. If you visit, don't skip the tram tours and be aware that there are different tram tours at different times. It seems clear that Omega have pumped some $$ into the place, because there are Speedmasters everywhere. Which is just fine by me
I've posted this pic before, but here's me and my Speedy 9300 touching a moon rock at Johnson...