moonwatchuniverse

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April 1966... Gemini water egress training Gemini astronauts Eugene Cernan and Edwin Aldrin seen during water egress training for the Gemini program onboard NASA motor vessel retriever in the Gulf of Mexico. By April 1966, NASA had received 35 Omega Speedmaster chronographs while having 52 active astronauts. MoonwatchUniverse has been delving into archives to bring up a complete overview of how & when the NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster chronographs were distributed to prime & backup astronaut crews of the Gemini & Apollo era. Note for MoonwatchUniverse this is the earliest photo showing Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin wearing a NASA-issued Speedmaster. (Photo: NASA)

#321 #Apollo #Astronaut #chronograph #Omega #Speedmaster #Moonwatch #NASA #MoonwatchUniverse #military #montres #uhren #pilot watch #test pilot #spaceflight #Gemini #Omega Bienne #Omega museum #Aldrin #Zulu time

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1970... Houston, We've had a problem here ! April 13, 1970: Apollo 13 CMP Jack Swigert to CapCom Jack Lousma, as an explosion rocked Command Module "Odyssey". Apollo 13 film mag 59/R photo AS13-059-8488 ... shows the NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster chronograph on Apollo 13 commander James Lovell’s wrist. Probably the best photo of an Omega Speedmaster chronograph taken during an Apollo mission...   Apollo 13 " Ex Luna Scientia " (Photo: NASA)

#Apollo #Astronaut #321 #chronograph #Omega #Speedmaster #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #NASA #montres #military #USAF #US Navy #pilot watch #Speedytuesday #spaceflight #Zulu time

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45 years ago... Soyuz 33 steep ballistic return 1979, April 10, as the Soyuz 33 crew of Rukavishnikov & Georgi Ivanov (Bulgaria) couldn't dock with the Salyut-6 space station due to their Soyuz main engine failure. Emergency return to Earth was accomplished with an unusual very steep ballistic re-entry resulting in landing in Dzhezkazgan. Commander Nikolai Rukavishnikov, who had been support cosmonaut for Apollo-Soyuz in 1975, wore an Omega Speedmaster Mk III "Big Blue chronograph, which remarkably fitted underneath the sleeve of his Sokol space suit. When in May 1973, a cosmonaut delegation visited Omega HQ in Bienne, they were presented the Omega flightmaster, Speedmaster versions up to Mk III and the ex-Alaska II Project Speedmaster. While they prefered the bulkier chronographs, during Apollo-Soyuz all spacefarers wore an Omega Speedmaster (11 in total). (Photo: TASS) #MoonwatchUniverse

#Astronaut #Aviator #Cosmonaut #flightmaster #Speedmaster #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #Alaska Project #NASA #Soyuz #Salyut #test pilot #pilot watch #montres #uhren #Zulu time #space suit

[moonwatchuniverse]

50 years ago, official ASTP cosmonaut portraits Between April 8 and May 3, 1974, a delegation of 75 Soviet-Russian engineers/cosmonauts visited the Johnson Spaceflight Center in Houston Texas. Both Leonov/Kubasov and their backup Filipchenko/Rukavishnikov together with 6 support cosmonauts performed joint training with their NASA counterparts. During a press conference on April 26, Thomas Stafford answered questions in the Russian language. These are some of the official NASA portraits made during that period, showing the cosmonauts wearing an Omega flightmaster, which they had been using since June 1973. (Photo: NASA)

#Astronaut #Cosmonaut #321 #chronograph #flightmaster #Speedmaster #MoonwatchUniverse #NASA #ASTP #military #montres #uhren #pilot watch #Zulu time #Spaceflight

[moonwatchuniverse]

2024, ISS Exp 70 and SpaceX crew-7 Another clear spot of the personal Rolex Yachtmaster on the wrist of female NASA astronaut / aerospace engineer Loral O'Hara, who has been in space since 15 September 2023... 202 days and counting! ISS Expedition 70 astronaut Loral O'Hara hugging with SpaceX crew-7 colleague Jasmin Moghbeli as the latter prepared for departure from the International Space Station. Space X crew-7 departed the ISS on Monday, March 11 before splashing down off the coast of Florida on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. (Photo: NASA)

#Astronaut #Aviator #NASA #moonwatchuniverse #spaceflight #ISS #aerospace #LEO #Rolex #Yachtmaster #Rolexmagazine #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

2024, March 29... ISS Expedition 70 NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara wearing a Sokol space suit with the now well-spotted shiny large "Energia" logo chronograph over the left forearm near the white pressure control valve. These striking & large "Energia" logo dial chronographs were first spotted during the Soyuz MS-21 launch ceremony in March 2021. The first idea to identify these tended to the "Strela" chronographs which have a similar lay-out but lack a full numerals dial. These large "Energia" chronographs were also used during the August 17, 2022 spacewalk on the Orlan space suit of cosmonaut Oleg Artemyev. (Photo: NASA)

#Astronaut #Aviator #Cosmonaut #chronograph #ISS #spaceflight #NASA #Strela #MoonwatchUniverse #montres #uhren #horloges #test pilot #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

April 1959... the " Mercury 7 " astronauts 65 years ago, NASA presented the first group of astronauts:

US Navy LtCmdr Alan SHEPARD (35)

US Navy LtCmdr Walter SCHIRRA (36)

US Navy Lt Scott CARPENTER (32)

US Marine Corps LtCol John GLENN (37)

USAF Capt Virgil GRISSOM (33)

USAF Capt Gordon COOPER (32)

USAF Capt Donald SLAYTON (35)

In September 1962, NASA astronaut group 2 followed with the "New Nine" aka the "Next Nine" and it's interesting to see the wrist watches these pilots/aviators were wearing ! (Photo: NASA)

#Accutron #Bulova #LeCoultre #military #MoonwatchUniverse #NASA #test pilot #pilot watch #uhren #wrist watch #spaceflight #USAF #US Navy #US Marine Corps #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

1965, April 2 ... LIFE magazine " Gemini's Journey " LIFE magazine brought an article on the Gemini III spaceflight, with an interview of astronauts Virgil Grissom and John Young. On March 26, in Washington D.C. both USAF Major Virgil Grissom and US Navy LtCmdr John Young were awarded NASA's exceptional service medal by US President Lyndon B Johnson. Note both Grissom and Young still wore the NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster 105.003-63 chronograph, on steel mesh JB Champion bracelet, 67 days before NASA announced the Speedmaster as flight-qualified for manned spaceflight missions. (Photo: LIFE)

#Apollo #Astronaut #Aviator #321 #chronograph #Omega #Speedmaster #moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #LIFE #spaceflight #military #montres #uhren #speedytuesday #Zulu time #Gemini

[moonwatchuniverse]

1969, April 3 ... official NASA photo ID portraits The Apollo 10 astronauts, Thomas Stafford, John Young and Eugene Cernan had their photo taken to be used for their official photo ID security access cards at the Manned Space Center in Houston Texas. Cernan didn’t wear a wrist watch, but both Stafford and Young wore their NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster chronograph on a lightweight steel mesh Jacoby Bender Champion bracelet. Note John Young had the chronograph running on his Speedmaster, as was often the case during photoshoots. (Photos: NASA)

#Apollo #Astronaut #321 #chronograph #Omega #Speedmaster #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #NASA #USAF #US Navy #military #montres #uhren #pilot watch #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

March 1963, Omega Speedmaster & Faith-7 training Mercury astronaut Gordon Cooper is seen getting some help from NASA suit technician Al Rochford, during suiting up for preflight tests in Hangar S at Cape Canaveral. USAF Major Leroy Cooper choose to wear his personal wrist watches, an Omega Speedmaster CK2998-4 manual winding chronograph on a steel mesh bracelet over his left wrist, and an Accutron Astronaut GMT pilot watch. During the 22 orbits May 1963 mission, lasting 34 hours 10 minutes, Leroy "Gordo" Cooper compared these wrist watches and both worked flawlessly! Two years later, the Omega Speedmaster 105.003 chronograph was qualified for the upcoming Gemini and Apollo spaceflight programs. Pre-Apollo 11, 97 Speedies were delivered in 4 batches. MoonwatchUniverse has been working on the complete history of Omega deliveries to NASA and on the subject on internal distribution of the Omega Speedmaster chronograph within the Gemini and Apollo spaceflight programs! (Photo: NASA)

#Astronaut #321 #chronograph #CK2998 #Speedmaster #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #NASA #USAF #military #montres #Omega watches #Omega #Gemini #Mercury #Skylab #test pilot #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

Ad Astra ... LtGeneral Thomas P. Stafford 2024, March 18... LtGeneral former NASA astronaut Thomas Patten Stafford passed away aged 93. After graduating as an USAF pilot, Stafford finished first in class at the USAF Test Pilot School (class 58C) at Edwards AFB - California. In 1962, Stafford was selected in NASA Group 2 " The New Nine " and he flew in space onboard Gemini VIa, IXa, Apollo 10 and ASTP. Stafford became Brig General in 1974, Maj General in 1975 and Lt General in April 1978. In November 1979, USAF LtGeneral Thomas Stafford became member of USA Omega Corporate Board of Directors and has been an important Omega ambassador" ! Photo shows Thomas Stafford leaving aircraft carrier USS Wasp in a Grumman S-2 Tracker post-Gemini VIa recovery... (Photo: NASA)

#Apollo #Astronaut #321 #chronograph #Omega #Speedmaster #NASA #military #montres #pilot watch #Gemini #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #Speedytuesday #spaceflight #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

Ad Astra ... LtGeneral Thomas P. Stafford 2024, March 18... USAF LtGeneral former NASA astronaut Thomas Patten Stafford passed away aged 93. After graduating as an USAF pilot, Stafford finished first in class at the USAF Test Pilot School (class 58C) at Edwards AFB - California. In 1962, Stafford was selected in NASA Group 2 " The New Nine " and he flew in space onboard Gemini VIa, IXa, Apollo 10 and ASTP. Stafford became Brig General in 1974, Maj General in 1975 and Lt General in April 1978. In November 1979, USAF LtGeneral Thomas Stafford became member of USA Omega Corporate Board of Directors and has been an important Omega ambassador" ! (Photos: NASA)

#Apollo #Gemini #Astronaut #ASTP #321 #chronograph #Speedmaster #Omega #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #military #USAF #montres #spaceflight #uhren #pilot watch #test pilot #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

Ad Astra ... LtGeneral Thomas P. Stafford 2024, March 18... LtGeneral former NASA astronaut Thomas Patten Stafford passed away aged 93. After graduating as an USAF pilot, Stafford finished first in class at the USAF Test Pilot School (class 58C) at Edwards AFB - California. In 1962, Stafford was selected in NASA Group 2 " The New Nine " and he flew in space onboard Gemini VIa, IXa, Apollo 10 and ASTP. Stafford became Brig General in 1974, Maj General in 1975 and Lt General in April 1978. In November 1979, USAF LtGeneral Thomas Stafford became member of USA Omega Corporate Board of Directors and has been an important Omega ambassador" ! (Photos: NASA)

#Apollo #Astronaut #321 #chronograph #Omega #Speedmaster #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #military #USAF #test pilot #montres #uhren #horloges #spaceflight #AdAstra #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

March 1965... NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster In March 1965, NASA issued the very first Omega Speedmaster chronographs to the Gemini III prime & backup crews. During the spaceflight mission, prime astronauts Virgil Grissom and John Young wore their NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster 105.003-63 chronograph together with an Accutron Astronaut tuning fork GMT pilot watch. Gemini III back-up pilot Thomas Stafford was also issued a NASA Speedmaster while back-up Commander Walter "Wally" Schirra already owned his personal Omega Speedmaster CK2998 (worn on "Sigma 7" flight in October 1962). Photo shows John Young in WSS during a weight & balance check for Gemini III. Note the Omega Speedmaster 105.003-63 on a flat link steel bracelet. (Photo: NASA)

#Apollo #Astronaut #321 #chronograph #Omega #Speedmaster #Gemini #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #NASA #spacesuit #military #montres #uhren #pilot watch #spaceflight #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

March 1965 NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster February - March 1965 saw final training for the Gemini III mission. Here naval aviator and Mercury veteran astronaut Walter “Wally” Schirra training as backup command pilot for the first 2-men Gemini III mission. NASA suit technician Joe Schmitt assisting Schirra for a simulation run in the new white G3C space suit. It’s interesting to see that Schirra was still wearing his personal Omega Speedmaster CK2998-4 chronograph as the official NASA-issued Speedmaster 105.003-63 versions were given to John Young, Gus Grissom and Thomas Stafford (Gemini III back-up pilot). NASA received 4 Speedmasters to be tested and probably these 3 astronauts received one as Schirra had his personal Omega Speedmaster CK2998. Note that Schirra’s CK2998-4 Speedmaster was missing its bezel, but was still going strong after becoming the first Omega in space in October 1962. By 1968, NASA astronauts were asked how the Omega Speedmaster could be optimised and most requested a more legible "radial dial" and a "60 minutes" bezel for easier timing. Some of these requested features made it into the Alaska Project Speedmaster but by 1970 NASA has produced half-a-dozen bespoke "60 minutes" bezels which can be seen on the wrists of Apollo 15 astronauts and their backup as late as July 1975 ! Thus far the 1972 white dial Alaska Project II Speedmaster with 60 minutes bezel and a shot-blasted Titanium case was the closest chronograph tikking all boxes as requested by the Apollo era astronauts... (Photo: NASA)

#Apollo #Astronaut #321 #chronograph #Speedmaster #CK2998 #Omega #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #NASA #military #montres #uhren #pilot watch #test pilot #Speedytuesday #Gemini #spaceflight #Zulu time

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March 14, 1928... remembering Frank Borman November 7, 2023, Frank Borman passed away aged 95. Selected a NASA astronaut in 1962, USAF test pilot Frank Borman flew on Gemini VII and Apollo 8 the first circumlunar spaceflight mission. A West Point graduate, Borman choose for a commission in the USAF and was part of Experimental Flight Test school class 60C at Edwards AFB. After 8 years at NASA, 20 years in USAF and a long career at Eastern Airlines, Borman retired in 1998. In total, Frank Borman flew 19 days 21 hours 35 minutes in space. During Gemini VII, Frank Borman wore NASA issued Speedmaster chronograph n° 04 and during Apollo 8 n° 63. Borman enjoyed his wrist watches, wearing Rolex since 1960 and Omega Speedmaster chronographs since his NASA career in 1966. Note the Omega Speedmaster sat on a steel Rolex Oyster bracelet. (Photos: EAL/AP/NASA)

#Apollo #Astronaut #321 #chronograph #Omega #Speedmaster #NASA #Moonwatch #MoonwatchUniverse #military #montres #uhren #sat #horloges #pilot watch #test pilot #Speedytuesday #Zulu time

[moonwatchuniverse]

First NASA astronaut onboard Soyuz... March 1995, physician Norman Thagard became the very first American astronaut to ride a Soyuz capsule to space. Nicknamed the "American cosmonaut", Norman Thagard's long-duration mission was the first of 7 long-duration flights onboard the Russian space station "Mir" in the Shuttle-Mir era (1995-1998). Although some of these NASA-astronauts, Thagard, Lucid, Blaha, Linenger, Foale, Wolf and Thomas, took a personal wrist watch, they were still issued an Omega Speedmaster chronograph. Thagard being the last long-duration NASA astronaut to wear a "Radial Dial" Speedmaster chronograph in the Shuttle-Mir program. (Photo: NASA)

#Astronaut #861 #chronograph #NASA #Speedmaster #MoonwatchUniverse #cosmonaut #Shuttle-Mir #spaceflight #military #montres #uhren #Zulu time