I'm not sure how the astronauts were able to accept these gifts from Omega. They were still federal employees when the watches were given. There are limits (very low) as to how much value a U.S. federal employee can accept from outside sources.
It wasn’t that out of the ordinary. For example, many astronauts were able to essentially lease Chevrolets for free (many chose Corvettes). I believe Alan Shepard was gifted a Corvette outright in 1962. There were some great perks indeed!
Nixon was offered #1 in the series and he turned it down.
The early astronauts got all kinds of extra cash, Life magazine had all those stories that they paid the astronauts for.
It wasn’t that out of the ordinary. For example, many astronauts were able to essentially lease Chevrolets for free (many chose Corvettes). I believe Alan Shepard was gifted a Corvette outright in 1962. There were some great perks indeed!
I think it's safe to say that they deserved them.
There were some perks, as long as everyone was out in the open about it. I'm sure many of us are familiar with the Apollo XV fiasco (which the crew has since been exonerated for) that resulted in Scott, Worden, and Irwin being permanently grounded.
There were some perks, but the reality is the Apollo Astronauts were national heroes in a time when heroes were expected to be modest. They did not get nearly enough for the risks they took and the achievements they've left behind.
Absolutely - I was merely pointing out that astronauts receiving gold presentation Speedmasters wasn’t an outlier. It was one of a number of well-deserved perks
Not only Armstrong's watch in this auction but Ed Mitchell's as well.
Omega Speedmaster Professional 18K Gold Apollo Commemorative Watch - From the Personal Collection of Edgar Mitchell
