Omega Speedmaster watch

Complete Omega Speedmaster Professional Chronograph watch with velcro straps as used on NASA's Apollo programme.

The Speedmaster (also known subsequently as the Moon watch) was first worn by Astronaut Wally Schirra in 1962 on the Mercury-Atlas 8 mission. Since 1965 these watches have been chosen by NASA to be the only type of chronograph certified for use on all their missions. At the time NASA was unsure how other mechanical watches would work in zero gravity. The three additional dials and the fact that the Omega watch can be hand wound made this watch exceptionally good at keeping accurate time. Despite being certified by NASA, astronauts now use a variety of different watches while in space.

Most of the Apollo astronauts wore watches like this. They could be worn both on the wrist while inside a spacecraft, and over their bulky spacesuits during walks in space and on the Moon. In 1969, the Speedmaster became the first ever watch to be worn on the Moon when Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the lunar surface. Neil Armstrong also had a Speedmaster, but he decided to leave it inside the Lunar Module. The module had suffered a malfunction with its electronic timers, so an alternative way to track time was needed - the Speedmaster - and Armstrong didn't want to risk it duriing his walking on the Moon.

Apollo 13 Command Module pilot, Jack Swigert, used his watch to time crucial engine firings after a near-fatal explosion in an oxygen tank had cut all electrical power to the on-board computer. The engine firings, or ‘burns’, had to be carried out manually. Normally these could have been timed by the Lunar Module Guidance Computer, but it had had to be powered down after the explosion to save on power. It was vital the burn was timed to the exact second. A mistake would have led to their spacecraft being unable to return to Earth safely. Swigert calibrated hs watch with mission control and the burn was carried out successfully.

Omega now has both a ‘Moonwatch’ range and a ‘Silver Snoopy’ range, inspired by the Silver Snoopy award. This award is given by NASA astronauts for outstanding achievements in flight safety and mission success. Omega received the ‘Silver Snoopy Award’ in 1970 after the safe return of the Apollo 13 astronauts.