How true is this??

[jimchan]

Came across this article from www.secondtimeround.com

If what was being described was really true, then WOW

"However the real untold story of the GMT Master begins here. Everyone
knows that NASA astronauts were issued with Omega Speedmasters, however not everyone knows that almost all the astronauts owned their own GMT Masters, which had become the standard Aviators timepiece, and they continued to wear them at all times including space flights.

The Speedmasters were regulated to occasions when they had to be worn, such as during space walks when the special extended bracelet allowed them to be worn outside the space suits. It was the GMT Master on the wrist of Jack Swigert that helped the crew of the Apollo 13 to make it back to Earth safely after their on board oxygen tank ruptured."

[Speed]

I once caught a fish....
T H I S BIG.

[rolexsweep]

Originally Posted by Speed

I once caught a fish....
T H I S BIG.

Hahahah

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Speed

I once caught a fish....
T H I S BIG.

[Rogue884]

Take a look at Jake's Blog, he has a lot of information on astronauts and their Rolex's, especially who wore them on missions. To my knowledge, they were all worn under their suits, while the Omega's were worn on EVA's. Here you go http://rolexblog.blogspot.com/2010/0...date-nasa.html

[Onikage]

Someone told me that the Omega Speedmaster was selected because it was manually wound and automatic watches with a rotor wouldn't keep good time in space...apparently. Blah

[Cabaiguan]

A Speedie was used by Swigert, not a GMT.

[Le Chef]

Classic Fox News story...

[Tools]

Quite a few of the astronauts used the GMT as their personal watch.. It's a well documented fact..

Not to mention test pilots such as Chuck Yaeger and others...

The Speedy was the official "issue" watch, but plenty of GMT's were in space too, as well as other brands..

[xjeeunitx]

I think this guy is advertising for that website...

[Christiaan]

Apparently Rolex never submitted a timepiece for testing by NASA and thats why Omega got the nod.

[nickorloff]

I've read it also had to do with the Omega having a hesalite crystal, and NASA were concerned what would happen to a sapphire crystal in zero gravity / zero atmosphere conditions.

[xjeeunitx]

Originally Posted by Christiaan

Apparently Rolex never submitted a timepiece for testing by NASA and thats why Omega got the nod.

Omega never submitted watches to NASA either. NASA went to the local store and bought random chronographs right off the shelves.

[jmsrolls]

Rolex never submitted a watch for testing but a Rolex was one of the watches bought off the shelf in 1965 and tested. During testing, the hands warped and stopped the watch. That was the one and only time NASA tested a Rolex.

On Apollo XIII, the critical engine burns were timed using the Speedmaster Professional. Needless to say, the Rolex GMT Swigert carried on the flight was not a chronograph. NASA awarded Omega the "Snoopy Award" for being instrumental in the safe return of Apollo XIII.

In any event, here is the NAWCC article regarding the Speedmaster Professional and NASA:

The Moon Watch: A History of the Omega Speedmaster Professional

Fr. John†

[Nalk7]

Originally Posted by jmsrolls

Rolex never submitted a watch for testing but a Rolex was one of the watches bought off the shelf in 1965 and tested. During testing, the hands warped and stopped the watch. That was the one and only time NASA tested a Rolex.

On Apollo XIII, the critical engine burns were timed using the Speedmaster Professional. Needless to say, the Rolex GMT Swigert carried on the flight was not a chronograph. NASA awarded Omega the "Snoopy Award" for being instrumental in the safe return of Apollo XIII.

In any event, here is the NAWCC article regarding the Speedmaster Professional and NASA:

The Moon Watch: A History of the Omega Speedmaster Professional

Fr. John†

[jmsrolls]

Originally Posted by xjeeunitx

Omega never submitted watches to NASA either. NASA went to the local store and bought random chronographs right off the shelves.

Although the Speedmaster Professional used in the initial test was purchased off the shelf, Omega did submit watches for subsequent testing.

Fr. John†

[jimchan]

Wow, interesting article

[SUBversive]

Originally Posted by Christiaan

Apparently Rolex never submitted a timepiece for testing by NASA and thats why Omega got the nod.

I know that is false.

[Master Mariner]

I urge you all to read the Jakes Rolex blog on www.rolexmagazine.com

That site has a wealth of information concerning all aspects of Rolex. Especially interesting is the section about Rolex in space. It is a well documented fact, that the GMT Master was worn by many an astronaute well through the Gemini and Apollo programmes, all the way to the current ISS. Jakes Rolex Blog even has interviews of astronautes themselves telling their stories. It is also documented that Jack Swigert did indeed have a GMT Master on his wrist on the Apollo 13. He had a Speedy pro on one wrist, and a GMT Master on the other.

Once you dig in to Jakes Rolex Magazine, you can't stop reading!

P.S. the watchuseek.com site also contains interesting NASA stories relating the Speedy pro and GMT Master in space.

[bondtoys]

Originally Posted by nickorloff

I've read it also had to do with the Omega having a hesalite crystal, and NASA were concerned what would happen to a sapphire crystal in zero gravity / zero atmosphere conditions.

back in the 1960s, no Rolex had a sapphire crystal......