posted October 26, 2006 02:07 PM               

TAG Heuer Became the First Swiss Watchmaker in Space

Back to 1962 with US Astronaut John Glenn’s Stopwatch: Piloting an F1 racing car or a sailing boat in the America’s Cup requires precision instruments of the highest calibre. How about when piloting a spaceship?

An independent researcher has presented conclusive evidence that US astronaut John Glenn was wearing a Heuer stopwatch when he piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 "Friendship 7" spacecraft on the first manned U.S. orbital mission. This means that Heuer now named TAG Heuer was the first Swiss watchmaker in space! Prior to Glenn’s historic flight, the only watch to pass beyond the stratosphere was the Russian-made chronograph that Yuri Gagarin wore when he orbited the earth in 1961.

The evidence, presented by space and watch enthusiast Jeff Stein, is based on flight records and NASA documents and several archival photographs.

The stopwatch, a “standard Heuer stopwatch, Reference 2915A,” with 12-hour capacity and 1/5 second accuracy, was fitted with elastic bands to be secured onto the sleeve of Glenn's spacesuit. It is now owned by the Smithsonian Institute and currently on display at the San Diego Air and Space Museum. Stein includes this quote from the display: “After the failure of other brands on the earlier flights of Alan Shepherd and Virgil "Gus" Grissom, the TAG Heuer was selected by NASA due to its ability to withstand the high G-forces created by liftoff.”

The launch from “Cape Canaveral” later renamed for President Kennedy, in Florida on February 22, 1962, saw John Glenn successfully orbit the earth three times, reaching a maximum altitude of approximately 162 miles and an orbital velocity of approximately 17,500 miles per hour. The mission lasted almost five hours, requiring the use of Heuer’s well-proven 12-hour timer.

According to Stein, the Heuer stopwatch strapped to Glenn’s wrist over his space suit served as the "backup clock" for the flight.

“Measuring time has been a critical factor in men's journeys into space,” writes Stein, “as it was also critical in man's early journeys across the oceans or the continents by railroad. Whether executing precise maneuvers or navigating the journey, it has been critical for space travelers to be able to time events and to know the time of day (in a realm in which there are no days). Conditions demand timepieces that will be rugged, reliable and precise, and easy to read and operate.”

“I am happy to introduce the TAG Heuer name—with its rich history and reputation in sports and scientific timing—into this discussion (or perhaps we should call it the "space race"), and to present the information and images that I have gathered,” writes Stein on his excellent vintage Heuer website - OnTheDash.com.

John Glenn’s adaptation of a Heuer stopwatch allowed him to keep time reliably with the utmost accuracy throughout the flight. Today, the astronaut would have no shortage of high-quality TAG Heuer chronographs to choose from! Today the brand is also famous for creating avant-garde movements, housing these in leading-edge chronograph cases, and equipping them with highly flexible bracelets of unparalleled durability, comfort and elegance.

The leading maker of precision-driven sports watches and chronographs since 1860, TAG Heuer is grateful to Jeff Stein for his research and proud to be associated with John Glenn’s historic achievement.

posted November 06, 2006 10:39 AM               

The watches are clear in the Glenn, Carpenter and Schirra photos, but missing from the Shepard and Grissom photos.

Jeff

posted November 07, 2006 05:07 AM               

It was a handwound Sturmanskie with central seconds complication and a hacking feature that allowed the watch to be precisely stopped and synchronized with a given time signal.

The Sturmanskie Gagarin wore into space had a highly finished (including Geneva striping!) 17 jewel, shock protected movement. The movement was housed in a chrome plated, two-piece case measuring 33 mm across, 12 mm high, with a 16 mm lug size and had a stainless steel screw back.

posted November 23, 2006 10:21 AM            

I'd like to learn more about the Sturmanskie brand. I haven't found any website talking about it on the web, even on Russian times.

posted August 11, 2008 03:47 PM               

Not the flown one but a "Commander's" watch issued by Chistopol watch factory and awarded to Gagarin 1965 by Kuznetsov, Head of Cosmonaut Training. Gagarin obviously had enough watches as next year he gave it to his brother. It is inscribed "To brother Boris. Yu. A Gagarin, 1966".

Not sure if he ever wore it (a photo would be a fantastic find), nor am I sure if it has any intrinsic value as a watch but it's certainly a prized possession.

posted August 24, 2008 09:17 PM               

Unfortunately, Scott's chronograph was submerged in seawater during his recovery and was not very watertight. It was returned to Breitling for repair following the flight and, in a nice gesture, they replaced it with a pristine model.

Of course, today his flown watch would be very valuable, but that was not appreciated at the time. He was happy to get a replacement. The original has never been seen again, even after efforts by Breitling to track it down recently.

Scott didn't have too much luck with his personal gear on MA-7...his Randall survival knife, engraved with his name, also went missing from his kit. Bo Randall ended up making him a new one of those, too.

Two people somewhere in the world have some very nice flown items.

Breitling still makes the Cosmonaute today, but don't be fooled. It has a completely different automatic movement, unlike the original hand-wound Venus his had. At one time, they were fitted with a Lemania-based movement similar, if not identical, to the 861 caliber Omega Speedmasters. I'd look for one of those if I were shopping for one.