Is it true that the Omega Speedmaster 9300 would wind (with the rotor) in zero gravit

[stockae92]

I was told that the Omega Speedmaster 9300 would wind (with the rotor) in zero gravity, any truth to that?

[dimster]

All rotors work in zero gravity. It's about momentum.

My english isn't good enough to explain it

[APguy1]

Yes it is momentum that spins the weighted rotor :) Gravity does help Though :)

[LandLawMan]

From what I have been told, the only reason that Omega won the competition for the moon watch, is because none of the other competitors were willing to commit to producing a model with what amounts to a fancy plastic crystal (Helsalite, in Omerga's case).

Now, here's the more interesting question: If you smoke a cigarette in space, will the smoke sink (from the end of the cig to the floor) when a gravitational force is applied? And I have no idea what this has to do with watches.

[joe100]

Originally Posted by LandLawMan

From what I have been told, the only reason that Omega won the competition for the moon watch, is because none of the other competitors were willing to commit to producing a model with what amounts to a fancy plastic crystal (Helsalite, in Omerga's case).

We'll, that's not the case. Almost any watch from that era had a plastic crystal. Subs, GMTs, Seamasters, DateJust, Speedmaster, And the Rolex chronographs. The Speedmaster was just like the rest in that regard.

The official story is that nasa purchased a bunch of chronographs from local dealers and tested them with the winner being the Speedmaster. Rolex was included in the tests but apparently failed. Now that said, a few people have written over the years that Omega simply paid nasa for the rights to be the official watch. Either way, I'm sure the tests took place, it's just a case of the chicken or the egg.

[DCheeta]

Originally Posted by LandLawMan

From what I have been told, the only reason that Omega won the competition for the moon watch, is because none of the other competitors were willing to commit to producing a model with what amounts to a fancy plastic crystal (Helsalite, in Omerga's case).

Now, here's the more interesting question: If you smoke a cigarette in space, will the smoke sink (from the end of the cig to the floor) when a gravitational force is applied? And I have no idea what this has to do with watches.

I don't see why it would. There is gravitational force right here on earth, and smoke goes up. Then again, I'm no physicist.

[LandLawMan]

Joe:
Yup, I was a bit skeptical when my Omega AD told me about the fancy plastic crystal. But I bought into his explanation because he told me that in zero G, Helsalite not only didn't shatter like some of the true plastic competitors, but it would have less potential to cut into a space suit if it DID shatter. He said that the competitors from Rolex, Wittnauer and the like, shattered and became razor-like projectiles in zero G.

[improviz]

Originally Posted by LandLawMan

From what I have been told, the only reason that Omega won the competition for the moon watch, is because none of the other competitors were willing to commit to producing a model with what amounts to a fancy plastic crystal (Helsalite, in Omerga's case).

Nah, that's not true, have a look at the sticky thread at top of this forum:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=50074

[daveswordfish]

Of course, the omega speedy pro moon watch is a manual and has no rotor...but yes, it would work :-)

[SUBversive]

Originally Posted by joe100

We'll, that's not the case. Almost any watch from that era had a plastic crystal. Subs, GMTs, Seamasters, DateJust, Speedmaster, And the Rolex chronographs. The Speedmaster was just like the rest in that regard.

The official story is that nasa purchased a bunch of chronographs from local dealers and tested them with the winner being the Speedmaster. Rolex was included in the tests but apparently failed. Now that said, a few people have written over the years that Omega simply paid nasa for the rights to be the official watch. Either way, I'm sure the tests took place, it's just a case of the chicken or the egg.

The speedmaster professional won out and is the reigning champ.

[salty_snack]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

The speedmaster professional won out and is the reigning champ.

Well that's not entirely accurate.

There have been several other watches worn in space, many by nasa astronauts. Thus, it's no longer the "reigning champ"

[improviz]

From Larry's sticky thread:
http://www.omega-fanatic.com/pages/o.../moonwatch.php

The normal procedure of soliciting bids for the design, manufacture and testing of special “Space Proof” wristwatches was a time consuming process, and NASA just didn’t have the time. So, NASA sent two Systems Engineers into downtown Houston “incognito” to purchase several reputable “off-the-shelf” chronographs to be tested for possible use in space. Most of the Astronauts were already “Jet-Jockeys,” and as such, they were familiar with specialized hardware. So, the systems engineers first interviewed the astronauts to find out what they were currently using as their personal flight wristwatches. Although it was unlikely, NASA engineers were hoping that some of the current “off-the-shelf” high-end brands of wristwatches would be able to withstand the testing requirements of the extreme conditions of space.

Five different brands of Chronographs were purchased and returned to NASA for testing. After the first round of tests, two of the five brands were disqualified. And, after the second round of tests, only one wristwatch, the “Omega Speedmaster Professional,” survived. NASA ordered several more watches of each of the brands tested, including twelve Omega Speedmasters. NASA paid the retail price of $82.50 for each Speedmaster and arranged for a final series of tests to finally determine the best wristwatch to use in space. The tests were completed on March 1, 1965. At the completion of the tests, three of the chronographs from different manufactures were still running, but only the Speedmaster had passed without any of the serious discrepancies encountered with the others. The Omega Speedmaster was adopted by NASA as the “Officially Certified Wristwatch For All Manned Space Missions.” The Omega Watch Company was completely unaware of these activities and they did not know that one of their watches had been tested and selected by NASA as the official wristwatch of the American Space Program!

Omega Speedmasters were purchased by NASA and issued to the astronauts. The first Omegas were issued to the Gemini-Titan III crews. And starting with Grissom and Young, the Speedmaster Professional became part of the standard equipment issued to the astronauts. The watch was worn on the outside of the pressure suite with a long black Velcro band. On Gemini IV, Edward White left the space capsule with an Omega Speedmaster on his wrist to become the first American to walk in Space. The Omega Speedmaster became very popular with the astronauts and were often used in their everyday lives as well as their work in space.

The biggest moment in the history of the Space Program (and the Omega Speedmaster) was on July 21st, 1969 when Apollo 11 landed on the moon. Once again, the Omega Speedmaster was apart of history and was the first watch to be worn on the moon. The Speedmaster again made history in April of 1970 when it was used to time the secondary rocket burns to bring the crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft back to Earth. The power systems of the Apollo 13 Lunar Module had been deactivated and the on-board computerized timing devices were inoperative. The Omega Chronograph wristwatch was the only means to measure the burn times.

The Omega Speedmaster was re-certified in 1972, and in September of 1978 NASA arranged a new series of tests to certify an official wristwatch to be used for the upcoming Space Shuttle missions. The Speedmaster was once again the only watch that stood up to the tests.

The Omega mechanical Speedmaster withstood vigorous and repeated testing and surely must be one of the most thoroughly tested watches in history. It was the only watch "Flight Qualified by NASA for all Manned Space Missions" and used during Projects Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz, and the Space Shuttle. But perhaps the greatest legacy of the Speedmaster Professional is that it has withstood the test of time. For even now, some 40 years after it was first introduced, it is still available and it is still the only watch that is flight-qualified by NASA for “extravehicular” space activity.

If you haven’t seen the Ron Howard movie “Apollo 13” with Tom Hanks, it is a “must see.” The Omega Speedmasters are clearly visible and these watches are worn on the outside of the Spacesuit. The Speedmasters were attached to the astronaut’s arms using Velcro straps. So, the astronauts had a personal issue Speedmaster with a stainless bracelet that they wore on their arms, and the space suits included Omega Speedmasters with Velcro straps.

According to a recent edition of the “NASA Explorers,” there are currently 4 wristwatches certified to fly in space. Each of the watches are off-the-shelf models that can be purchased at retail stores. “The certification process assures that the watches can perform and not self-destruct in the vacuum of space. With pressure variances and temperature extremes, watch components may expand, rupture, or crack causing a potential hazard to the crew.” The First wristwatch certified for space flight is the Old Standby watch, the mechanical Omega Speedmaster Professional, and this watch was actually first used in space by Walter Schirra when he orbited the Earth six times in the Sigma 7 spacecraft in 1962. (This was before NASA had officially certified Omega.)

The second certified wristwatch is the New Omega X33 Speedmaster Titanium Chronograph. This is a very sophisticated Multifunction Quartz version of the original Omega Speedmaster, and includes both analog and digital displays. The watch has an "electroluminescent" dial for easy reading at night and is very durable and light weight due to the Titanium construction. The new Speedmaster also has several timers that can be displayed during the course of experiments or other closely monitored activities.

The Casio G-Shock is another basic wristwatch used by NASA astronauts, and is helpful when working on precise projects. The newest wristwatch to become certified is the Timex Ironman. This cutting-edge timepiece boasts an LED port to synchronize up to 10 alarms to a calendar of a personal computer. The Timex also stores 38 telephone numbers, identifies messages, displays the time in two different time zones, and comes close to serving as a wrist computer.

Today, all NASA-issued wristwatches are government property and must be turned in once the astronauts return to Earth. Astronauts are permitted to check the watches out before launch and take them home to familiarize themselves with the watch’s operation. However, both versions of the Omega Speedmaster, the Casio and the Timex are available for purchase to the general public. And, to the best of my knowledge, the original mechanical Omega Speedmaster Professional is the only piece of space equipment certified by NASA for "All Manned extravehicular Space Flights" that is available for wear to the public. Thus the Speedmaster Professional provides the opportunity to own a small piece of history.

More detail here, courtesy of Fr. John:
http://www.k4yk.com/watches/OmegaNAWCC.pdf