Omega Speedmaster
The Omega Speedmaster Professional is a wristwatch today the Swatch Group owned Swiss company Omega. She is known to have been the first ( but not the only ) watch on the moon. It is often referred to as the " Moonwatch " or " Moonwatch " means. The Omega Speedmaster Professional is considered the most proven clock in the world. In addition to the "Professional" still exist other models of the Speedmaster, some of which have other housing forms or have different capabilities such as date or automatic winding.
The clock
The Omega Speedmaster Professional is a mechanical wrist chronograph with manual winding. The Speedmaster Professional has the classic stainless steel version of a Hesalit and is up to 50 meters waterproof, there are also stainless steel versions with sapphire crystal and Co - Axialwerk with date display, and also gold case.
Since the first Speedmaster, the clock has until now changed only slightly. From the year 1942, the caliber 321 was used with control gear as the first chronograph movement by Omega with a twelve -hour counter, and later the caliber 861 with slide control and watches with glass in the ground, the caliber 863 was used, which has an improved finissage. With slight changes were announced today from the caliber 1861 and 1863., The pointer shape has changed over the years marginal. The enclosure shape was slightly modified ( protected crown, lugs).
The steel band is five-piece in its current version, the rows 1, 3 and 5 are brushed, rows 2 and 4 polished.
References numbers
The designation of each model is followed by the reference number that is engraved on the base. The first model from 1946 had numerous references, including the number OT 2466 years reference numbers
(* 1973 ST 188.0002 (leather strap ) ST 388.08000 (metal band ) - Sonic Speed with tuning fork works 1255 )
The reference of today's newly produced classic version is 3570.50.00. Furthermore, there are models of the Speedmaster with other calibers ( works 1040-1045 ), who still have other numbers. These are mainly the descendants of the Mark II, III, IV and V and many more. Models from the 1960s and early 1970s are now sought-after collector's items, especially if they are located in a faithfully state. Today's Omega Speedmaster Professional with stainless steel bracelet in Germany had a list price of 2,320 € ( price increase in January 2006, previously € 2,180 ). 2012 cost the Speedmaster Professional in Germany € 3,300. In December 2013, the Speedmaster Professional cost (Ref. 3573.50.500 ) € 4,100.
Variants
A reduced ( and cheaper) version of the Omega Speedmaster Professional was Reduced (caliber 3220 ). Their diameter was reduced to 39.1 mm without crown and the surface finish is not as expensive as in the model. It has an automatic movement with 40 hours power reserve and was in different variations - for example, with date display - available. The model was no longer officially offered from 2012 by Omega.
History
For the planned lunar landing examined the NASA in 1962 after a space qualified clock. To make sure that it is watches from the series production, all of the tested watches purchased from ordinary traders ( Corrigan ) by an employee of NASA anonymous in Houston, Texas.
On 3 October 1962 the clock with the astronauts Walter Schirra aboard Mercury - Atlas 8 for the first time in space. He supports the second generation of Speedmaster with the reference CK 2998th
On March 1, 1965, NASA decides after extensive testing that the Omega Speedmaster Professional is suitable as a single clock for the manned spaceflight program. She gives her the title of " flight- qualified by NASA for all manned space missions". The NASA tests, which consisted only this clock, were, inter alia, gravity, strong magnetic fields, extreme shocks and vibrations and temperature changes from minus 18 to plus 93 degrees Celsius. It was used in the mission of Gemini 3 early on 23 March 1965.
On June 3, 1965 Ed White wears a Speedmaster 105 003 in the first American EVA, so a spacewalk, where the clock was exposed to space conditions for the first time without protection.
On July 21, 1969, the Speedmaster is the first clock on the moon. But it is not on the wrist of Neil Armstrong, but by Buzz Aldrin. Since the descent to the moon, the clock of the Lunar Module ( ie the lunar module ) broke, Neil Armstrong left his clock back as a replacement device in the lander. Thus, the clock of Buzz Aldrin has been the first clock on the moon. This was lost when Aldrin sent them to the National Air and Space Museum. It is no longer surfaced today. A detailed investigation proceedings with parties of 11 mission Apollo in June 2004 concluded that an alleged owners just that clock has a different clock. It is striking that NASA has not announced until today, which unique characteristics ( engravings ) has the missing Aldrin clock. The two watches of Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins are now on display at the National Air and Space Museum. For all other moon flights of this type of watch was also included. In April 1970, the Omega Speedmaster Professional was an important factor in the successful rescue mission of Apollo 13, the clock was needed to navigate after otherwise almost all systems had failed on board. NASA gave the clock then the so-called " Snoopy Award".
On the back of the watch were engraved small unique numbers so that each clock could be assigned to an astronaut. Thus, the clock of Buzz Aldrin had the number 43
In the rendezvous of the Apollo and Soyuz in 1975 in space Alexei Leonov was the first Russian cosmonaut the clock. However, may not Leonov wore the Speedmaster Omega, but the second generation of Flightmaster caliber 911 with any case on all known photos of this mission he wears this clock.
In 1978, NASA was looking again for a clock that was suitable for the planned Space Shuttle Program. Though in the public tender and more manufacturers with their models participated as before and the tests were carried out even harder, only the almost unchanged Omega Speedmaster Professional was again the only clock able to pass all the tests successfully.
1989, a contract between the company and Omega Energia was completed, who saw to it that the Speedmaster is also used in the cosmonauts.
In addition, the Russian space agency on board the Mir space station leads between July 1993 and July 1994, several tests with clocks.
Current situation
Even today, one of the Omega Speedmaster Professional as standard equipment the astronauts and is used esp. in spacewalks. The clock is worn over the space suit with a 640 mm long bracelet.
Overall, there are two watches from Omega that have been certified by NASA with stand 2008 for the space flight (start and stay inside the spaceship ): The Speedmaster Professional 3570.50.00 and the Speedmaster Professional X - 33rd
In addition, it is possible that the astronauts may also carry a private clock. However, this must not be carried inside the spacesuit, as can occur in the event of an emergency extreme situations (such as high pressures) that could lead to a bursting of the clock inside the spacesuit. In vacuum (EVA inserts) are again different rules, here is the Omega Speedmaster Professional remains the only approved clock.