Early astronaut and cosmonaut watches - collectSPACE: Messages

Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

collectSPACE: Messages

Hardware & Flown Items

Early astronaut and cosmonaut watches (Page 3)

profile | register | preferences | faq | search

This topic is 3 pages long: 1 2 3

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Author	Topic: Early astronaut and cosmonaut watches
Philip Member Posts: 6375 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001	posted 12-10-2022 05:12 AM 45 years ago, ex-Alaska II Project in space — Fun fact: Omega's ultimate space watch, a Speedmaster chronograph in distinctive red outer protective case (code name Alaska Project II) was developed for use by Apollo astronauts riding on the bumpy and dusty lunar surface onboard the lunar rover Vehicles of NASA's moon project, but due to cancellation of Apollo 18-20 these time pieces never made it to the moon. Instead these wristwatches were used 45 years ago as Soyuz 26 launched to the Salyut-6 space station on December 10, 1977.
Philip Member Posts: 6375 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001	posted 07-15-2024 09:05 AM This summer 2024 we celebrate 65 years since the NASA Space Task Group procured the very first official wristwatches to the "Mercury 7" astronauts! Since May 1959 the STG Flight Control Branch Training Aids team worked closely with LeCoultre to provide the astronauts a bespoke anti-magnetic waterproof 24 hours dial wrist watch, which were issued in September 1959 and which the "Mercury 7" astronauts wore during training & special events up to October 1963! My article in cooperation with a collector who owns the late John Glenn's LeCoultre describes how and why this was done.
Philip Member Posts: 6375 From: Brussels, Belgium Registered: Jan 2001	posted 02-03-2026 09:28 AM Finally after 60 years, it looks like the current whereabouts of the Longines Lindbergh Hour-Angle aviator watch of James Mattern, worn by NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong during the Gemini 8 mission in March 1966, are known today!
Robert Pearlman Editor Posts: 55899 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999	posted 02-03-2026 09:35 AM Philip, I read your post on the Omega Forums, but unless I am missing something, it does not state where the Mattern watch is today. It teases it, but then ends short of saying where: In 2024, I was amazed to hear via the James Mattern website that the Gemini VIII space-flown big crown aviator watch whereabouts were unknown... Until today! ... ☕ In an age of AI-generated images it's hugely important to fact check and to add official NASA photonumbers, which state place and date taken. So where is it?

This topic is 3 pages long: 1 2 3 All times are CT (US)	next newest topic \| next oldest topic
Administrative Options: Close Topic \| Archive/Move \| Delete Topic
	Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a