12 Facts About Omega Speedmaster

The Omega Speedmaster Professional remains one of several watches qualified by NASA for spaceflight and is still the only one so qualified for EVA.

The Omega Speedmaster line includes other models, including analog-digital and automatic mechanical watches.

The evaluation concluded in March 1965 with the selection of the Omega Speedmaster, which survived the tests while remaining largely within 5 seconds per day rate.

Aldrin's Omega Speedmaster was lost during shipping when he sent it to the Smithsonian Institution, its reference number being ST105.

In 1970, after Apollo 13 was crippled by the rupture of a service module oxygen tank, Jack Swigert's Omega Speedmaster was used to time the critical 14-second burn using the lunar module's descent propulsion system, which allowed for the crew's safe return.

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Also in 1968, Omega Speedmaster transitioned the caliber 321 movement to the new caliber 861, designed by Albert Piguet, with the introduction of the reference 145.

Omega Speedmaster has produced a large number of commemorative and limited edition variants of the basic "Moon watch" design, celebrating important anniversaries and events, emblazoned with the different patches for the space missions it was issued for, or evoking its motor sport roots with various racing patterns.

In 1970, Omega launched the Alaska Project under Pierre Chopard, which changed the dial of the original Speedmaster Professional from black to white and created a removable anodized aluminum housing to shield the watch from a wider range of temperatures.

In 1971 and 1973, Omega turned to automatic mechanisms on the Speedmaster Automatic MkIII and MkIV models alongside Speedsonic Electronic Chronometer Chronograph other non-Speedmaster Chronographs such as the Omega Bullhead.

The digital-analog Omega Speedmaster X-33 was produced in 1998; it was qualified for space missions by NASA and flown on the Mir space station and Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-90 later that year.

Omega Speedmaster has seen iterations within motor racing, in particular the Automatic 'Racing' models.

Omega Speedmaster Racing, Michael Schumacher Edition of 2000, with his signature on the backside.