The Speedmaster was present for yet another decisive moment in space history during the 1975 joint USSR-USA Apollo-Soyuz docking. In recognition of the crucial role that its Speedmaster chronograph played on the Apollo 13 mission, OMEGA received the “Snoopy” Award in October 1970 – the highest honour awarded by NASA astronauts. Commander James Lovell relied on his Speedmaster Chronograph to time, within a fraction of a second, the extremely critical firing of the re-entry rockets allowing for the safe return of his crew to planet Earth. An explosion of a reserve oxygen tank compromised all the time keeping mechanisms on board: except one. Able to withstand extreme temperature changes and zero gravity, the Speedmaster touched down on the moon with Apollo 11 astronauts in July 1969 and subsequently became known as the Moonwatch.ĭuring the troubled and dramatic Apollo 13 “Houston, we’ve had a problem here” mission of 1970, the Speedmaster saved the day. OMEGA’s Speedmaster Chronograph was officially “flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions” in 1965 although the Speedmaster had already been to space on the wrist of astronaut Walter Schirra on board the Sigma 7 in 1962. With an impressive track record of 11 NASA tests and 6 Moon landings, the Speedmaster has been on every US manned space flight and is currently on board Russia’s ISS International Space Station making this manual-winding timepiece a cornerstone of horological and space history. #Omega speedmaster moonwatch professional chronograph professionalThey’re also working on a variation of the Speedmaster Professional that can withstand the conditions on Mars for a mission set for 2030.Launched in 1957 and designed to measure speed with chronograph and tachymeter functions, the Speedmaster has proved time and time again an invaluable and life saving partner to pilots, astronauts and explorers as they defy boundaries and push to ever-higher limits in the exploration of the universe. First, they plan to return to the moon for the proposed trip in 2024. Over the course of the next several decades, they have two major missions on the horizon. Still, the brand continues to partner with NASA to refine the Speedmaster Professional. Through the years, OMEGA has made very few modifications to the original version that once walked on the surface of the moon. Part of what continues to make the Speedmaster Professional so remarkable to this day is that it’s remained largely unchanged. Today, we call the Speedmaster Professional by its affectionate nickname, the Moonwatch. Since then, it’s been on board each subsequent Apollo mission and lunar landing. They felt it best to leave one of the watches inside in case any damage occurred upon exiting the vessel. Aldrin wore his Speedmaster Professional, but Armstrong did not. Over six hours later, he and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin took their first steps on the moon. As a result, Neil Armstrong had to use his Speedmaster Professional in its place. An important instrument called the mission timer had failed in the Apollo 11 spacecraft. In 1969, the Speedmaster Professional made history by being the first watch to land on the moon. It served on the Gemini missions in 1965 and the Apollo missions throughout the remainder of the 1960s. In the years that followed, the Speedmaster Professional would continue to be NASA’s official watch. It was then that the Speedmaster Professional was born. When NASA approved the Speedmaster for space missions, the brand decided to rename the model. This prompted NASA to test a number of watch brands under extreme conditions in order to determine which would be best to use in future space missions. That year astronaut Wally Schirra wore the Ref. Just five years later in 1962, the Speedmaster gained widespread attention. This sports and racing chronograph was the first model to feature the brand’s now iconic triple-register dial. Before the Speedmaster Professional, there was the original Speedmaster. The history of the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional began when NASA named OMEGA the official watch brand of the space program. About OMEGA Speedmaster Professional Watches
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