Omega Speedmaster watch

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

The Speedmaster (also known today as the Moon watch) was first worn by Astronaut Wally Schirra in 1962 aboard one of the Mercury missions. 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 they were unsure how other mechanical watches would work in zero gravity. The three additional dials and the fact that the watch can be hand wound makes this watch exceptionally good at keeping accurate time. Despite being certified by NASA, astronauts continue to 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 on the moon when Buzz Aldrin left the Lunar Module (LM). Neil Armstrong also had a Speedmaster watch, but he left it inside the LM. The module suffered a malfunction with its electronic timers, so an alternative way to track time was needed. 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’, were done manually. Normally this would be timed by the Lunar Module Guidance Computer, but it had to be powered down after the explosion to save on resources. At this point in their mission, the crew were exposed to freezing temperatures, lack of sleep and lack of water, so it was very important to complete their manual burn correctly. After calibrating their hand wound watches with mission control, they were able to time their engine burn accurately. This was an impressive feat, as this 14 second course correcting burn, when completed properly, ensured that they were on the right course for a safe re-entry into the earth's orbit and that they avoided the risk of entering at too wide of an angle which would cause them to bounce off the atmosphere back into space.

The Speedmaster looks a bit different today than it did back in the 1960s. Omega now has a ‘Moonwatch’ range and a ‘Silver Snoopy’ range, inspired by the Silver Snoopy award. This award is given by NASA astronauts for outstanding achievements for flight safety and mission success. Omega received the ‘Silver Snoopy Award’ in 1970 after the safe return of the Apollo 13 astronauts.