Omega Speedmaster Testing....NASA

[Tools]

There has been quite a bit of talk about the Omega Speedmaster lately. Much of it to do with it's certification for the NASA spacewalk program.

The Speedy has a strong following and has reached cult status throughout the world for it's reliability and feats of legend in space..

For those interested here is an interesting site that tells about testing the watch.

Speedy Testing


Oh, and once again, the backside of mine....just 'cause I think it's cool...



And the business end......

[mike]

Tough as nails.

[fmalloy]

Love mine!

If I get that GMT-II, I think that they would both make a great pair - the space association with the Speedy, and the whole travel/PanAm history of the GMT.

Still just dreaming about the GMT right now...

[Tools]

Hey, that GMT is no slouch and has it's own proud history.

It is also associated with the astronauts....All of them were issued Speedies, but many of them bought GMT's as their personal watch, and wore them in the capsule..

I'd get myself another nice vintage GMT too, except I think Mike has them all.

[armypilot]

Originally Posted by Tools

Hey, that GMT is no slouch and has it's own proud history.

It is also associated with the astronauts....All of them were issued Speedies, but many of them bought GMT's as their personal watch, and wore them in the capsule..

I'd get myself another nice vintage GMT too, except I think Mike has them all.

Amen to that! I've got a 69 pre-moon Speedmaster Professional and a 1980 GMT 16750, I love them both!

[Perdu]

Originally Posted by fmalloy

Love mine!

If I get that GMT-II, I think that they would both make a great pair - the space association with the Speedy, and the whole travel/PanAm history of the GMT.

Still just dreaming about the GMT right now...

Agree: GMT and a Speedy. Great combo.

[Lubrifar]

Larry, did your 1957 came with the wooden box set of pins (or patches)? I believe there were 8 of them if I remember correctly.

[Perdu]

" In order to comply with the 'Buy American' act, Omega had the cases for the Speedmaster manufactured in Michigan by the Starr Watch Case Company. Crystals were shipped to them from Switzerland. Completed cases with crystals were shipped on to the Hamilton Watch Company in Pennsylvania, for inspection and testing. The case and crystals were then shipped to Switzerland where the movements were installed and the entire watch was subjected to final inspection and environmental testing. Omega changed the original Cal. 321 movement to the Cal. 861 in 1968 so it must be assumed that the Cal. 861 was the version tested."

Now that sounds like a government project.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Lubrifar

Larry, did your 1957 came with the wooden box set of pins (or patches)? I believe there were 8 of them if I remember correctly.

No, I did not get any goodies with mine

[Lubrifar]

Originally Posted by Tools

No, I did not get any goodies with mine

Ouch... should have kept my mouth shut...

[fear]

I have a question(s) for all Speedy experts. I'd like to purchase a Speedy Pro but leery about its water resistance. Anyway, how do you keep the watch clean? I mean, I can wash and scrub with a toothbrush my divers after grungy days. Can this be done with the Speedy Pro? Thanks!!!

[applebook]

Originally Posted by fmalloy

Love mine!

If I get that GMT-II, I think that they would both make a great pair - the space association with the Speedy, and the whole travel/PanAm history of the GMT.

Still just dreaming about the GMT right now...

[SLRdude]

And a wallpaper that seems fitting to this thread.
The Speedy in the pic now belongs to Mike.

The Moon was actually rendered in Bryce 3D and the sky was made in Photoshop. For the Earth, I used a NASA image.

[SLRdude]

One more of Mike's watch...

[armypilot]

Originally Posted by Perdu

" In order to comply with the 'Buy American' act, Omega had the cases for the Speedmaster manufactured in Michigan by the Starr Watch Case Company. Crystals were shipped to them from Switzerland. Completed cases with crystals were shipped on to the Hamilton Watch Company in Pennsylvania, for inspection and testing. The case and crystals were then shipped to Switzerland where the movements were installed and the entire watch was subjected to final inspection and environmental testing. Omega changed the original Cal. 321 movement to the Cal. 861 in 1968 so it must be assumed that the Cal. 861 was the version tested."

Now that sounds like a government project.

You are correct as far as the entire production process, but it was actually the Cal. 321 movement that was initially selected for the Apollo program. NASA started the testing process in 1964. The Speedmaster Professional that they tested was the Ref. 105.012 with the Omega Cal. 321/ Lemania 2310 movement. NASA selected this watch in 1965 as the watch that would be used in the Apollo program and secured their initial purchase from Omega. In June 1965, astronaut Ed White made the first American space walk wearing a personal Omega Speedmaster Ref. 105.003 Cal. 321/Lemania 2310. During the Apollo 11 mission, astronauts Niel Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were wearing Ref. 105.012's Cal. 321/Lemania 2310. A timer had failed in the LM so Armstrong left his Speedmaster in the LM as a back up, so Aldrin's Speedmaster was the first one to be worn by an astronaut walking on the moon. Command module pilot Mike Collins wore a Ref. 145.012 Cal. 321/Lemania 2310. The Ref. 145.012's had been purchased by NASA from 1967-1969. Omega did not start producing the Cal. 861/Lemania 1873 movement until late 1968, which by that time all the watches for the moon landings had already been purchased by NASA.
In 1972 NASA had another competition due to the complaining of some of the watch companies that had been rejected during the first testing process. Again the Omega Speedmaster Professional came out on top. NASA then purchased another batch from Omega, these were Ref. 145.022 with the Cal. 861/Lemania 1873 movement. These were the standard Speedy's in NASA's inventory and were supplemented by purchases of the Ref. 145.0022 from 1972 to 1997. In 1997 the Ref. 145.0022 PIC 3570.50 Cal. 1861/Lemania 1873 were purchased and these are the Speedy's that are authorized for the EVA's performed presently. I've included some pics of my pre moon Speedmaster Professional Ref. 145-022-69ST with the Cal. 861/Lemania 1873 movement.

[armypilot]

Originally Posted by fear

I have a question(s) for all Speedy experts. I'd like to purchase a Speedy Pro but leery about its water resistance. Anyway, how do you keep the watch clean? I mean, I can wash and scrub with a toothbrush my divers after grungy days. Can this be done with the Speedy Pro? Thanks!!!

Not a problem giving it a good bath. I just wouldn't go swimming with it. They are rated to a little over 100 feet but I wouldn't chance it.

[time]

I like the history of it. Is it good as a daily watch? Good water and shock resistant? I consider to have a Speedm. beside mye Rollies...

[armypilot]

Originally Posted by time

I like the history of it. Is it good as a daily watch? Good water and shock resistant? I consider to have a Speedm. beside mye Rollies...

It is a great daily watch. Case diameter is a liitle larger than my GMT-Master. The Hesalite acrylic crystal is very tall. Water resistance is not so good, only to about 50 meters or so, but hey it's not a diving watch. Shock resistance is very good, I've dropped mine more times than I can remember and it doesn't seem to have suffered any ill effects. My GMT gets most my wrist time but every now and than I get on a space kick and love to wear my Speedy!

[time]

Is the Speedy case very much higher/thicker than a Sub?

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Thanks for the link, Larry!

Have you checked how the precision of your Omega limited edition is? Great watch!

[SLRdude]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Thanks for the link, Larry!

Have you checked how the precision of your Omega limited edition is? Great watch!

I can tell you that the late 70's vintage that I sold to Mike was keeping time within about 3 seconds per day!
My current one seems to be around 2 seconds plus per day.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Thanks for the link, Larry!

Have you checked how the precision of your Omega limited edition is? Great watch!

My Speedy (1861 movement) is about +1 second per day.....but it reacts nicely with positional regulation...So I leave it with the crown up overnight and it stays pretty much right on.....

[SPACE-DWELLER]

That's amazing timekeeping!

BTW, Larry, did you get this Omega pin that was shown in another thread?

[Andad]

Hi Tools,

I really really do like your Speedy.

[CPCC]

Okay, I'll ask: If you are doing a spacewalk does it really matter what watch you are wearing. Its not like you are diving and can see your wrist. You are wearing a space suit. ............
Oh, I get it, you wear it on your wrist over the space suit.