posted 02-19-2019 09:22 AM               

For this week’s Speedy Tuesday article, we talk to a guy who has been featured here before in 2015. He calls himself TLIGuy on the Australian based OmegaForums and is occupied with creating an overview of historic moments in manned spaceflight between 1965 and 2015, using Speedmaster case backs.

He started in 2013 with this massive project and we thought it would be nice to talk to him where he stands today. We ask him some questions about this impressive project that includes the involvement of many astronauts and NASA staff to be completed.

posted 07-13-2019 09:39 AM               

The background photograph was taken during STS-125 and the Starburst Cluster Nebula NGC 3603 photograph incorporated into the patch was taken with the Wide Field Camera 3 installed in Hubble during the STS-125 mission.

posted 09-03-2019 08:19 PM               

This addition also completes one piece from each Space Shuttle — Columbia, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour, and finally, Challenger.

The payload bay image was photographed during STS-41G and a star field added with six larger stars representing each of the original six women selected to become astronauts in 1978.

Thank you Dr. Sullivan for another first.

posted 05-04-2020 07:37 PM               

The new panel presentation has been updated with the two new pieces recently added by Scott Altman and Kathryn Sullivan. With their pieces I now have one piece for each Shuttle flown minus Enterprise. I'm also still looking for one last elusive piece and a place holder was added using an inoperative instrument cover credited to Heritage Auctions.

Using a Grumman ID Plate as a template a collection ID Plate was created in the same scale as the original plates.

For the collection ID Plate the range of dates are from the beginning to end of the current pieces in the collection. The 2013 - 2019 represents the period I acquired the pieces.

I have also noticed on a few other ID plates that some have a stamping in the small circle between the U and S so in the plate below a Speedmaster stamp was added.

posted 07-13-2020 09:00 AM               

The aluminum ID Plates are a 1:1 replication of the ID Plates flown onboard the Lunar Modules.

posted 01-04-2022 09:41 AM               

I have been working on adding this new piece signed by William Readdy for his STS-79 Shuttle-MIR mission for quite sometime now. The addition of this piece recognizing Captain Readdy's accomplishments, as well as adding the first joint Shuttle-MIR piece to the collection made the wait well worth it.

I think the image created for his new piece is hands down one of the best of them all.

posted 01-06-2022 10:43 AM               

Here is a new piece signed by STS-133 mission specialist Nicole Stott marking the final mission of Discovery and capping of her distinguished 27 year career at NASA.

Thank you Mrs. Stott.

posted 01-07-2022 02:15 PM               

I've worked with a number of astronauts over the years assembling the collection, but this a first. In addition to returning the fantastic case back, Captain Cassidy included one of his personal challenge coins as well. To say that I was humbled and honored that he included it would be an understatement.

Thank you, Captain Cassidy.

posted 05-11-2025 07:49 PM               

This piece was signed prior to him becoming a Breitling ambassador. The Speedmaster case back signed by Kelly marks his, at the time, record breaking Year-in-Space (340 days) on board the International Space Station. Kelly's record stay in space was later eclipsed by Mark Vande Hei by 15 days in March 2022.

Kelly touched down on the snow-covered steppe of Kazakhstan on board Russia's Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft. His landing on March 2, 2016 at 04:25 UTC, marked the historic completion of his 340-day expedition.

posted 11-02-2025 07:57 PM               

Here is the new X-33 piece added to my collection signed by STS-135 Mission Commander Chris Ferguson.

Thank you Captain Ferguson. BZ!!

posted 04-03-2026 07:15 PM               

The lineage of today’s Generation 2 X-33, now on its way to the moon, traces back to the early test watches, including my own X-33.

Following initial prototype testing that began with STS-75, the X-33 was refined based on astronaut feedback, leading to the production of the Generation 1 model. The watch was then further evaluated by the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds before its public debut aboard Mir in March 1998.

My Generation 1 X-33 was acquired from a Blue Angels demonstration pilot who began testing and flying with the watch in 1997, using it over the course of two show seasons. At the time, team members were issued these watches to evaluate and provide feedback to Omega.

To celebrate its almost 30 year history I had it signed by one of the most recent Commanding Officers of the Blue Angels Captain Alexander Armatas.

Captain Armatas is also featured in the most recent new Blue Angels documentary as he assumes the roll as the new Blue Angels Commanding officer and Flight Leader, the Boss.

Thank you Captain Armatas. Fair Winds and Following Seas.

(This project is not endorsed by Omega, The Swatch Group, the United States Navy, or the Blue Angels. It is undertaken independently and has no commercial purpose or financial backing. Neither I nor any participants receive any financial or other benefit from this activity.)