Hi, I have been reading several forum and website, and just need help to confirm some facts. NASA did a test on 105.003, Cal 321. and this was the first watch to space, worn by ed white. (longines, bulova, rolex watches was submitted to NASA but was not selected) 105.012. Cal 321, left in lunar module, 145.012 Cal 321, first watch on the moon, worn by Buzz? Cal 861. was produced after lunar landing. use cam and lever, so pretty much not related to Real "moonwatch"? Thank you
Oh where do we start... the basics on the movements. The 861 is derived from the 321 and are in the same family i.e. Very closely related. There is data that makes it appear at least one 861 was worn on the moon.
One answer each and we'll have this sorted out quick. I start Buzz Aldrin wore a 105.012 on the Moon, Michael Collins a 145.012 while circling the Moon. ok, next!
Three years research ??? Don't rush into anything Unlike the internet, books don't (cheekily) talk back
That link reads to me that it was 321s only on the Moon, with some comment that a non NASA sanctioned 861 may have orbited, nothing about landing. Am I missing something?
There is a chart out there which lists one of them has a 861. The guess is a service swap at NASA. There are also references to a personal 145.022 that went up. http://www.chronomaddox.com/moonmovement.html His data showing NASA admits that 861's could have been swapped in around 1970 with a later chart with serial numbers and movements show a possibility of 861's being on a later mission. One of the watches that went to the moon is listed as 861 on that chart which I can't find. My googlefoo is not working. It has come up on this site a few times. AFAIK nothing definitive
I think you have most of the answers to your questions answered but here is just a bit more. @mr_yossarian is correct here. Omega and James Ragan confirmed that the reference worn by Aldrin was indeed the 105.012. Collins wore a 145.012 that currently resides on display at the NASM in Sterling, VA. Regarding Armstrong's 105.012 being left in the LEM during the EVA as claimed by Aldrin in his autobiography. I was always curious about this claim and was able to confirm it reading through the Apollo 11 post mission commentary. The 861 on the moon?? While the Maddox site does offer a wealth of information he provides no definitive proof of a Speedmaster with an 861 movement ever being worn on the moon. He only speculates what could have happen. As of today the 12 moon walkers watches, with the exception of Aldrin's, are all accounted for and have been verified to have 321 movements. As a side note, only 2 other watches have ever been "confirmed publicly" to have gone to the surface of the moon. One was the Bulova chronograph worn by Dave Scott on Apollo 15 during his 3rd EVA and the other being Ron Evans' Rolex GMT taken to the surface of the moon remaining in the LEM Challenger on Apollo 17. I have done so pretty extensive research on the 861's on Apollo 17 and I believe the closest any Speedmaster with an 861 movement ever got to the moon was in orbit around the moon, one being used on the heat flow experiment and one personal 861 being worn by Ron Evans in addition to his issued Speedmaster. More on his watches can be seen at the link below. https://omegaforums.net/threads/todays-episode-of-in-search-of-the-3rd-evans-speedmaster.32300/ I do believe Mitchell wore two Rolex GMT's under his suit during his EVA's but he neither confirmed or denied it publicly before his death. Both his GMT's currently reside with his family.
It is so sad that omega didnt mention 145.012-67 during its 60th anni. It was the watch that brought the apollo 13 peeps back.
http://www.ablogtowatch.com/historical-omega-speedmaster-apollo-alaska-special-mission-watches/2/ Omega just gave proof of an 861 at least around the moon on Apollo 17. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19730023108.pdf Full report on the study If I read the info right the 861 was on the moon in the lander. I'm pretty sure the experiment was done inside. My scanning of the document did not lead me to believe one way or the other. Note: this was not a NASA supplied watch from inventory, and bypass the existing NASA purchase data.
Surely if the watch remained on Ron Evans' wrist, this is in fact proof that this particular 861 didn't reach the surface since he was CMP on the Apollo 17 mission and it is specifically he who is credited with performing the experiment in 'translunar coast' but I think the report is inconclusive on this point. It is a big report which I admit I have only skim read but have searched for obvious terms such as 'watch', 'chronograph' and 'Omega' without success. Which part makes you think the watch went down to the surface in the LM rather than staying in the CSM with Evans?
The Lockheed Heat Flow & Convection experiment flew onboard CSM "America" in lunar orbit and had a Speedmaster 145.022-69 ( 861 caliber ) bezel-less/band-less chronograph attached to it. However, Ron Evans used a further pair of Speedmaster chronos, as he also carried a personal Speedmaster onboard Apollo 17. This might also have been a 861 caliber See:https://omegaforums.net/threads/todays-episode-of-in-search-of-the-3rd-evans-speedmaster.32300/
The Apollo 17 Heat Flow & Convection apparatus was onboard the CSM "America" and NOT onboard the Lunar Lander "Challenger" , so NOT on the Moon, but in Lunar orbit. Mediocre article though on ABTW.com and the author made a correct summary: "" In fairness the Speedmaster does have a very complex history to it that Omega does a commendable job at presenting intelligently portioned pieces of... ""
Correct, sorry for the typo... Well in fact the experiment-attached Speedmaster was a 145.022-69 and was sold at Christie's in December 2015 to the Omega Museum ! However, his personal Speedy could even have been a 145.022-69 or 145.022-71