Community Stories

New reveals about the NASA Space program watch choice

ginobi
Posts
62
Likes
116
speedy4ever speedy4ever
Ciao Gino,

I missed the latest posts of this thread. I guess this 145.012 is simply 26.552.325, produced 18.10.1968 and delivered to USA. Same for other known 145.012s NASA in the same batch of 10 units (26.552.32x).
To my knowledge, 20.552.xxx does not correspond to a batch a calibers 321.

Ciao Greg,

even to my knowledge 20.552.3xx shouldn't match to a batch a calibers 321.

But the fact is that from the photo of the caliber 321, from the Smithsonian, the serial number is just 20.552.325 and moreover we also have 2 different documents, from NASM and from Bienne, that affirm this

Stafford #76 caliber 321 (from Smithsonian)
r138gdY.jpg

NASA Chronograph list (from NASM) extract
KqYywyN.jpg

NASA Astronaut' Speedmaster (Omega Bienne)
MrT9nYD.jpg

Ciao, Gino
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
We also looked to the analog-digital Omega X-33 Speedmaster chronograph, the well-known 72 decibel Alarm watch of which the first prototypes were flown and tested by Swiss astronaut Claude Nicollier onboard space shuttle Columbia mission STS-75 in February-March 1996 ...
Moreover we counted about 140 X-33 chronographs flown on Soyuz spaceflight missions between August 1998 and 2020...
Hoping for better days and a GTG somewhere in the world soon...
🍿
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
50 years ago... May 1971...
For the first time astronauts were spotted with NASA-issued Speedmaster chronographs with a " 60 minutes " bezel, a practical improvement NASA astronauts requested when asked for feedback on the Speedmaster in 1969... Photo shows Apollo 15 crew, Irwin, Worden and Scott.
As far as I know, besides a single use on the 1972 Alaska II Project Speedmaster, Omega didn't use the "60 minutes" bezel feedback...
Such a shame !
.
60minutes_Speedmaster.jpg

(Photo: NASA)
 
DoctorEvil
Posts
1,431
Likes
2,730
@SpeedyPhill
Great work in keeping this thread going. Wealth of information and with great period photos.
Now that I've finally read all the pages, you could say that I'm "up to speed" 😉
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
Thanks... I've been spending a lot of time researching new stuff as for the 5th anniversary of my MoonwatchUniverse blog (and me collecting aviation & spaceflight photos since 1971 = 50 years 😉 )... resulting on less time on this forum, but more on other websites (e.g. Hodinkee)
https://moonwatchuniverse.tumblr.com/archive

.
Edit: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/eight-space-watches-that-arent-the-speedmaster-professional
Edited:
 
DoctorEvil
Posts
1,431
Likes
2,730
SpeedyPhill SpeedyPhill
Thanks... I've been spending a lot of time researching new stuff as for the 5th anniversary of my MoonwatchUniverse blog (and me collecting aviation & spaceflight photos since 1971 = 50 years 😉 )... resulting on less time on this forum, but more on other websites (e.g. Hodinkee)
https://moonwatchuniverse.tumblr.com/archive

.
Edit: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/eight-space-watches-that-arent-the-speedmaster-professional
Thanks for the links. I'll check them out.
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
Not specially NASA-related but certainly an important SpeedyTuesday... 50 years ago !
Time Peace or How the Omega Speedmaster got behind the Iron Curtain and into the Soviet-Russian space program...
☕
During the 26-30 September 1971 IAF - International Aeronautical Federation conference in Lucerne - Switzerland, both Apollo 13 astronauts and Soyuz 9 cosmonauts were awarded Medals and IAF diplomas. NASA astronaut James Lovell received the Gold Space medal, IAF’s highest award for his courageous achievements & leadeship as the Apollo 13 commander.
During the event, which got a huge domestic press coverage, James Lovell and Vitaly Sevastyanov rode the Mount Pilatus suspension cogwheel railway as the press headlined:
“For the very first time in space history an American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut ride in the same cabin”.
Omega SA certainly took note and deemed Switzerland, with its self-imposed neutrality, was the ideal place for meet-ups between astronauts & cosmonauts. Two years later, Soviet-Russian cosmonauts were invited to the Omega HQ in Bienne to be showcased several wristwatches to support Soyuz spaceflight missions... two years later cosmonauts were wearing Omega Flightmaster, Omega Speedmaster and Speedmaster Mk III.
Or how a Swiss watch united the astronauts & cosmonauts of the Cold War's rival superpowers... 11 Speedmasters worn during ASTP 🤔
(Photo: TASS/AP - MoonwatchUniverse collection)
.
1971_Astronaut_Cosmonaut_Suisse.jpg
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
Just completed a full listing of Russian cosmonaut delegations who visited Omega Headquarters in Bienne kanton Bern - Switzerland, between April 1973 and April 1994 (when Neil Armstrong & Thomas Stafford also visited Omega museum).
Would like to get some opinions on which bracelet was worn here:
👎
.
clasp_Omega.jpg
 
SkunkPrince
Posts
5,636
Likes
5,791
SpeedyPhill SpeedyPhill
between April 1973 and April 1994 (when Neil Armstrong & Thomas Stafford also visited Omega museum).
General Stafford was also chairman of Omega USA for many years after he retired from the Air Force.
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
To be exact: Thomas Stafford was a one star USAF General by 1973 and became a member of the USA Omega SA board in 1979 😉
.
STAFFORD_73.jpg
 
pdxleaf
Posts
4,936
Likes
17,235
SkunkPrince SkunkPrince
I have a signed copy of the left-most pic.

WSS NASA lithographs are a favorite of mine too.

This is slightly off topic, but still might be interesting.

While looking at a space auction, these documents came up about the Apollo-soyuz mission. They were Slayton's notes (except for one). I took pictures of the documents in case I didn't win (I didn't win.) Nothing Earth shattering but still kindof fun look behind the scenes.

Screenshot_20210519-085129_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20210519-085012_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20210519-085001_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20210519-084942_Samsung Internet.jpg Screenshot_20210519-084915_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
The significant Speedmaster EVA (spacewalk) data
October 3, 1962 MA-8 Sigma-7 Walter Schirra wore his personal Speedmaster CK2998 in space
June 3, 1965 Gemini IV Edward White & James McDivitt exposed 4 Speedmasters to outer space
July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 Edwin Buzz Aldrin wore a Speedmaster 105.012-65 on the Moon
April 7, 1983 STS-6 astronauts Story Musgrave & Don Peterson: 1stSpeedmaster EVA space shuttle era
Contest:
When was the Omega Speedmaster used for the very first time during an EVA strapped over an Orlan space suit ?
 
Omegafanman
Posts
4,626
Likes
17,549
SpeedyPhill SpeedyPhill
The significant Speedmaster EVA (spacewalk) data
October 3, 1962 MA-8 Sigma-7 Walter Schirra wore his personal Speedmaster CK2998 in space
June 3, 1965 Gemini IV Edward White & James McDivitt exposed 4 Speedmasters to outer space
July 20, 1969 Apollo 11 Edwin Buzz Aldrin wore a Speedmaster 105.012-65 on the Moon
April 7, 1983 STS-6 astronauts Story Musgrave & Don Peterson: 1stSpeedmaster EVA space shuttle era
Contest:
When was the Omega Speedmaster used for the very first time during an EVA strapped over an Orlan space suit ?

Thanks to MWU I am now thinking…. 1978
.
 
4EF4D88E-1893-4CEC-8931-D2D11FA61424.jpeg
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
Very probably, but this was an ex-Alaska II Speedmaster in red outer case...
What about just a regular Omega Speedmaster chronograph over an Orlan spacesuit during spacewalking
👍
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
NASA-Speedmaster puzzle
As the 50th anniversaries of the Apollo lunar missions near their end this December 2022, a final call to complete the NASA-Speedmaster puzzle.
Via the Rolex Vintage Forum, someone replied Omega delivered a batch of Speedmaster chronographs on December 20, 1965...
Still working on the complete detailed Omega Speedmaster puzzle for NASA:
By June 1965 NASA had 30 astronauts on active flight status and only 20 Omega Speedmaster chronographs.
Between April 1965 and May 1968, 97 Omega Speedmaster were delivered in 4 batches... ( 5 batches ? )
Early days 3 survived the December 1964-April 1965 NASA testing procedures. Two of these 105.003-63 were used onboard Gemini III by astronauts Gus Grissom & John Young, their 2nd watch was an Accutron Astronaut tuning fork pilot watch).
Gemini III backup: Thomas Stafford also received a NASA-issued Speedmaster as Walter Schirra already owned his personal Speedmaster CK2998-4 (at that moment without a bezel).
My notes show the first official batch was delivered on April 23, 1965 ( 17 each 105.003 versions).
My notes show the second official batch was only delivered in May 1966 (only 105.012 from this point-in-time) !
I have no exact dates for the 1967 & 1968 batches deliveries...
Any help is welcomed !
🍿
.
 
1972_NASA_OMEGA.jpg
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
Omega Heritage told me only the first official batch were 105.003-64 Speedmaster versions (17 delivered in April 1965) but indeed our notes have NASA numbers 27 & 28 used on Gemini IX in June 1966 as 105.003-64... so probably the December 20, 1965 delivery mentioned on VRF had to be still 105.003 !
🍿
 
SpeedyPhill
Posts
6,126
Likes
11,375
Another interesting NASA photograph showing the Gemini III prime crew of John Young and Virgil Grissom near the McDonnell Gemini capsule simulator at the MCC building at the Cape Kennedy Air Force Station - Florida (1964, October 25).
At that time NASA had received chronographs from 3 brands (Hamilton had shipped stopwatches), each brand shipping 4 each...
Could this be the cream dial Longines Wittnauer 235T chronograph on the wrist of the astronauts ?
Could this be the cream dial 37 mm Rolex 6328 pre-Daytona chronograph on their wrists ?
I have even heard a suggestion it could have been an Omega Seamaster chronograph.
Anyway, we know 1 of the 4 delivered watches underwent the full 11 NASA tests... the Omega Speedmaster 105.003-63 won and the three remaing Speedmaster chronographs were issued to Grissom and Young to fly on Gemini III (they also wore an Accutron Astronaut pilot watch) and to Gemini III backup pilot Thomas Stafford (remember Walter Schirra already had his personal Omega Speedmaster CK2998-4).
👎
.
1964_Oct25_CHRONOGRAPH.jpg
 
38 More Posts...
Sign up or log in to reply...

Similar threads

pdxleaf

Less Known facts about the Astronauts and Space Program

pdxleaf Open Discussion
SpeedyPhill
SpeedyPhill
Posts
31
Views
4K
Uniqez

Another great movie for NASA Space Program enthusiasts!

Uniqez Open Discussion
Watchmutt
Watchmutt
Posts
13
Views
1K
Drawarms

Speedy fans.... a True Story about Omega Speedmaster and NASA Space Program

Drawarms Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
Drawarms
Drawarms
Posts
2
Views
1K
Uniqez

True story about Omega Speedmaster and NASCAR Space Program

Uniqez Vintage Omega Watches Help, Discussion and Advice
U
ulackfocus
Posts
13
Views
2K