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Author
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Topic: Artemis II: The new Moonwatch?
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CMD_OVRD
Member Posts: 87
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 01-13-2026 10:03 AM
   
It looks like all four crewmembers on the Artemis II flight were wearing the Omega Speedmaster X-33 Gen 2 wristwatch during the recent dress rehearsal. No surprise as it’s been in NASA’s inventory for decades now and Omega continues to service the model.  Still, from a watch enthusiast's perspective, this is pretty historic. For a watch that never really caught on with the general public, it certainly has had it’s share of firsts and this flight adds to that list. I’m sure that the X-33 will gain some renewed interest during and after the flight, much like it did following the SpaceX Demo-2 flight in 2020. Perhaps Omega might consider offering the model to the general public again as a tribute to this historic flight! |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 55752
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-13-2026 12:12 PM
Indeed, and to that end, I asked Christina Koch about her and her Artemis II crewmates' watches and she said... We will have a NASA [issued] watch. It's the one that we've all flown with before on ISS, I believe, or have had the option to. We have one issued so that we can get used to in the training. This is because our watches are operational. We use it to set mission elapsed time, and we practice that in our sims. |
CMD_OVRD
Member Posts: 87
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 01-13-2026 06:26 PM
It’s incredible how hard these are to find today as well. Many watch sites, as well as eBay, have quite a few of the Gen 1 versions of the X-33. But the Gen 2 is pretty rare. The ones I typically see have to be shipped from Japan. I know that they're still out there, but perhaps the owners know what they have and are unwilling to part with them. That's why I was hopeful for a re-issue, but I’m not sure if Omega could use the NASA connection like they've done with the original Speedmaster for so many years. I'd be surprised if there wasn't some type of agreement in place to prevent Omega from capitalizing on their contract. |
TLIGuy
Member Posts: 265
From: Virginia
Registered: Jul 2013
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posted 01-13-2026 06:39 PM
It's great to see that the Omega X-33 is still flying given all the other options out there now. I'm aware of a handful of X-33 "Lemons" that have been reported by a few astronauts, but they are far and few between. The X-33 is truly a fantastic piece of hardware and will serve the Artemis crew well.This is as good a place as any to share my X-33, since the lineage of today's Generation 2 X-33 being flown begins with the early tested watches. After the X-33 prototypes were tested beginning with STS-75 changes were made per astronauts feedback and the Generation 1 X-33 was produced. The watch was again tested by the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds before being introduced to the public onboard MIR in March 1998. My Generation 1 X-33 was purchased from one of the Blue Angels demonstration pilots that began flying and testing the watch beginning in 1997 and flew with it for three show seasons. Team members were provided watches to test for feedback to Omega. Once the testing was completed the watches were returned to Omega where the Blue Angels patch was engraved on the case back and then offered to the pilots for purchase. This watch sat in the pilots drawer for over 20 years until I purchased it. I replaced the battery and it has been keeping time flawlessly ever since.  I recently had the opportunity to take the watch on a visit out to the USS George H.W. Bush as they prepare for their upcoming deployment. While pictures of X-33 taken in the ISS cupola are cool, I think mine on the bridge of the carrier at the Captain's chair is pretty great.  
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CMD_OVRD
Member Posts: 87
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 01-14-2026 09:18 AM
Nice pics John (TLIGuy)! Thank you for posting those. That’s a very unique piece. I love a watch that comes with a good story. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 5536
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 01-14-2026 11:00 AM
Very nice image (miss being at sea but not the sound of the cat shots while trying to sleep). |
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