While there are many variants of the OMEGA Speedmaster, we sell only the "Professional" versions, i.e., the Speedmaster Professional (left) and Speedmaster X-33 (right). Both watches are flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions. This is not an endorsement that OMEGA paid for. Rather, both watches have passed grueling tests that numerous other watches have failed. We will cover each watch's particulars below, and then cover the history behind NASA's issuance of two of the greatest wrist chronographs ever created.

This is it, the one and only "Moon Watch", the wrist chronograph worn by the Gemini and Apollo astronauts. There is no other watch quite like this one. The Speedmaster Professional has been in production for several decades now and there have been numerous changes over the years. We sell only the current model of the Speedmaster Professional, OMEGA part no. 3570.50.00. The Speedmaster Professional is also an idiosyncratic watch that is not suitable for all users.

The Speedmaster Professional is a large and heavy watch, slightly larger in size than a Rolex Submariner. Not everybody will like a watch this large. Whatever. We believe this size is perfect for a men's watch. It is large enough that it has presence. It has weight, but not bulk. About the same time quartz watches were all the rage, watch designers were trying to make men's watches delightfully slim and light. Time and experience, however, have shown these watches to be wanting in terms of masculine appeal and strength. Besides, if you are going to pay this much for a watch, it should be big. It makes you feel as if you are getting your money's worth. Leave the dainty watches for the ladies. For a supersize version of this photo, click here.

The Speedmaster Professional is a mechanical watch and has two main functions: (1) time; and (2) chronograph. Thus this wrist chronograph has more hands and a more complex dial than a standard analog wristwatch. However, the black dial is very uncluttered and legible for a wrist chronograph. There is no cheeseball slide rule or anything else to take away from the Speedmaster Professional's functional elegance. Time-hours are designated with luminous bold hash marks, time-minutes and chronograph-seconds are designated with long hash marks. Chronograph-subseconds are designated with fine hash marks.

There are three subdials. The left subdial indicates time seconds for the Speedmaster Professional's time function. The bottom subdial indicates chronograph-hours for the watch's chronograph function. The right subdial indicates chronograph-minutes for the watch's chronograph function. So long as the watch's movement is wound, the watch's time-hour, time-minute, and time-second hands will continue to operate in their normal fashion. In the photo above, the watch is designating a time of 4:39:41. Note that all three chronograph hands are at "zero" and are not moving. The chronograph hands do not move unless they are initiated by the user.

To initiate the chronograph function, simply depress the watch's top chronograph pusher (at the two o'clock position) and the chronograph-second hand will begin to move. Once the chronograph-second hand makes one full revolution, the chronograph-minute hand on the right subdial will indicate one minute elapsed. The chronograph-hour hand will move slowly to indicate whether the chronograph-minute hand is on its first or second revolution within the chronograph-hour. Depress the upper chronograph pusher once again to stop the chronograph function. The chronograph function can be started once again without resetting. Depress the lower chronograph pusher (at the four o'clock position) to reset all of the chronograph hands to "zero" and hold them stationary while the watch's time hands continue to tell the proper time of day. It sounds complicated in description but the use of the chronograph is actually very easy and intuitive.

Luminous inserts are fitted to all hour hash marks, as well as the time-hour, time-minute, and chronograph-second hands. The hour hash marks glow green, but the hands glow yellow. This dial is very easy to read in low-light conditions.

The crystal is a domed "hesalite crystal", which is not glass but a high-impact acrylic.

Most fine watches like this Rolex GMT-Master II feature a flat sapphire crystal to prevent the crystal from getting scratched, as sapphire crystal is very hard and largely scratchproof.

However, the Speedmaster Professional was designed for more than good looks (other models of the Speedmaster are fitted with sapphire crystals for good looks). Sapphire crystal is not safe at high pressure levels and shatters into numerous pieces when it breaks. These pieces pose an inhalation and eye hazard in a Microgravity or high-speed environment. To prevent such accidents from taking place, the Speedmaster Professional is fitted with an acrylic crystal that is both stronger than sapphire crystal and does not shatter if broken. Hesalite crystal scratches more easily than sapphire crystal but can easily be polished out. Sapphire is so hard that it is exceedingly difficult to polish out any scratches that inevitably will form with use. Plastic crystals are also stronger than sapphire crystals and resist impacts better.

For polishing the Moon Watch's plastic crystal, we use and recommend Wenol Unique Hard-Wax Car Polish and Expeditionware Microfiber Towels. Wenol will restore a scratch Moon Watch crystal quickly and buffs to a rich, deep, haze- and swirl-free luster that lasts. Wenol is completely non-abrasive and safe for the Moon Watch's plastic crystal. Simply apply a small amount of Wenol to a microfiber cloth, rub the crystal gently, then buff to a brilliant, long-lasting shine.

Surrounding the dial is a tachymeter, which can be used to calculate the speed of a moving vehicle or the production speed of a machine.

The tachymeter is marked with increments from 500 to 60, and is very easy to use in conjunction with the watch's chronograph functions.

To calculate the speed of a vehicle over a known distance, depress the top chronograph pusher when entering the fixed distance, such a mile or kilometer marker on the side of a road. The chronograph second hand will begin to move. Depress the top chronograph pusher again when when you reach the end of the fixed distance, such as the next mile or kilometer marker.

If the time elapsed is, say, 51.4 seconds, the chronograph second hand will point to "70" on the tachymeter, which indicates a speed of 70 miles per hour. Alternatively, if the time elapsed to cover one mile is 45 seconds during the same mile, then the chronograph's second hand will point to "80" on the tachymeter and indicate a speed of 80 miles per hour. The tachymeter works on the same principle whether the distance traveled is in miles or kilometers or feet or inches or whatever.

The Tachymeter will also calculate production speeds. To calculate the production speed of a machine, start the chronograph and count off a fixed number of units made. For example, start the chronograph and begin counting units produced. Stop the chronograph when, say, 10 units are produced. Let's say the time elapsed to produce the 10 units is 42 seconds. The chronograph second hand will point to "85" on the tachymeter. Then, the machine's hourly output is 10 x 85, or 850 units per hour.

The tachymeter is a very useful tool, yet the Speedmaster Professional's tachymetric bezel is very unobtrusive and does not make the watch's dial appear overly busy or confusing.

The Speedmaster Professional's case is machined from solid stainless steel. The four horns are fluted along their top surfaces for an elegant appearance and to minimize weight. Current Speedmaster Professionals feature a dual-tone finish with some sections mirror polished and other sections with a brushed finish.

The crown is located at the three o'clock position. The crown is recessed enough that it is not susceptible to damage, yet it protrudes enough that winding the crown is not difficult. The two chronograph pushers are located at the one and four o'clock positions. Thus the watch is more suited for wear on the left wrist and for use by right-handed users.

Note that the Speedmaster Professional features a manual-winding mechanical movement. The user must wind the crown in a clockwise direction at least every 48 hours or the watch will wind down and eventually stop. While most people prefer the self-winding wristwatch, or "automatic", the professional will value reliability over convenience and thus prefer the manual. Automatics are necessarily more complex and inherently weaker than manuals and are thus more susceptible to damage from activities such as golf or tennis that generate large amounts of torque on the rotor. These high-torque activities can cause the rotor to spin rapidly, which can be harmful to the watch. Automatics are also more prone to damage from sudden decelerations such as dropping the watch or impacting it against another object. The OMEGA c.1861 movement is renowned for its strength and longevity, and is as strong as any other mechanical movement in use today. It is a simple matter to wind the watch as a matter of course before putting it on one's wrist. Furthermore, many lovers of fine watches derive a great deal of pleasure from winding their watches and feeling the precision of the mechanical parts housed within the case.

The caseback on Speedmasters has changed over the years. All Speedmaster Professionals since 1971 feature a caseback engraved with the famous words "FLIGHT-CERTIFIED BY NASA FOR ALL MANNED SPACE MISSIONS; THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON" and a deep-relief engraved Hippocampus. Like the rest of the components on the Speedmaster Professional, the caseback features a dual-tone finish. The periphery of the caseback is mirror polished and the "flat" features a brushed finish. Sorry, but if you are looking for a display-back version of the Speedmaster, you came to the wrong place. OMEGA does in fact make a Speedmaster Professional with a display back that lets you view the movement. However, we opine that a professional-grade, "working" watch such as the Speedmaster Professional should be fitted only with a steel caseback both for maximum strength and for functional aesthetics.

All current Speedmasters feature a deep-relief Hippocampus with "SPEEDMASTER" and the OMEGA logo above and below the Hippocampus. The Hippocampus (hippocampus brevirostris) is a mythical monster with the head and fore quarters of a horse joined to the tail of a dolphin or other fish. The Hippocampus was often depicted in the Ancient World as attached to the chariot of Neptune. The deep-relief engraving is not abrasive to the wrist, but helps to keep the watch stationary on the wrist when the bracelet is properly adjusted.

OMEGA offers the Speedmaster Professional with both leather straps and steel bracelets, but it is our considered opinion that this watch needs and deserves a proper steel bracelet. A watch as fine as the Speedmaster Professional will last you your lifetime (as well as the lifetime of your son), so the watch should be fitted with a bracelet that will last as long as the watch. Leather straps are very comfortable and and can be made from exotic and beautiful materials such as crocodile skin, but they are not suitable for daily use as they rot and crumble with even mild use and must be replaced often. Steel bracelets are very robust and will last as long as the watch. Furthermore, it is considerably cheaper to buy the watch with the steel bracelet and buy a replacement leather strap than to buy the watch with the leather strap and then purchase the steel bracelet separately. Steel bracelets on fine watches like OMEGA or Rolex command shockingly high prices.

Every single part on the Speedmaster Professional's bracelet is machined from solid steel. No stamped component is used. Thus the bracelet will not "stretch" over time like the Rolex Jubilee bracelet. Once sized to your wrist, the watch will fit you perfectly for your life or the watch's life, whichever ends first.

The Speedmaster Professional has been in production long enough that the bracelets have changed over the years. Current Speedmaster Professionals feature a bracelet that might be described as a hybrid between the Jubilee and Oyster bracelets featured on current Rolex watches. The bracelet links are oval in cross section and very comfortable to the wrist. There is no sharp edge anywhere on the bracelet or clasp. Again, no stamped component is used. The links are solid steel and very easy to clean. If you have ever tried to clean a Rolex Jubilee bracelet, you will appreciate the solid links on the Speedmaster Professional's bracelet.

The links are symmetrical and thus the inside and outside faces of the links are identical in shape. The rounded edges are very comfortable to the wrist, even when the bracelet is fitted to be slightly tight so that the watch will not move on the wrist. Compare this to the squared edges on current Rolex Jubilee bracelets or the concave inner surfaces on current Rolex Oyster bracelets. While Rolex's are superb watches, their bracelets are not in the same league as current OMEGA bracelets. The Speedmaster Professional's bracelet is adjustable for length by driving out the fastening pins connecting the links, thus the clasp is kept thin and sleek. All genuine OMEGA bracelets are marked with direction indicators that show the proper direction in which the pins should be driven to remove a link.

Like the rest of the watch, the current Speedmaster Professional's bracelet features a dual-tone effect, with polished accents on an otherwise brushed finish. Polished pieces flank the center links in the bracelet, and the sides of the outer links are mirror polished as well. The effect is very handsome and not pimp or gaudy in the slightest. The polished/brushed finish on the bracelet compliments the similar dual-tone finishes on other portions of the watch. The contrast between the polished and brushed finish is slight, and the overall effect is very pleasing to the eye.

The clasp on the current Speedmaster Professional is a work of art. Those accustomed to spring-locking clasps made from stamped steel components will appreciate the superiority of the locking clasp featured on the Speedmaster Professional.

Here is a view of the clasp with one end of the bracelet disconnected. If you are accustomed to the stamped components on Rolex clasps, this will be another world to you.

Here is a view of the clasp fully open.

The clasp folds upon itself in the traditional manner, but the thicker machined pieces fold side by side instead of the usual arrangement one sees where thin stamped pieces fold on top of one another.

The clasp's locking mechanism is unique and very secure. A flared stud protrudes from the clasp's inner layer.

The flared stud engages two spring-loaded rods within an aperture on the inside face of the clasp.

When the clasp's pieces fold and close upon them themselves, the flared stud engages the the spring-loaded rods and locks securely into place.

The clasp's cover features two buttons that must be depressed simultaneously for the clasp to open. Pushing only one button will not unlock the clasp.

Here is the clasp arrangement in the open position.

Once the clasp is closed fully and locked into place, the clasp is very secure and will be very difficult to open inadvertently. Contrast this with other designs where the clasp is basically a large claw that snaps into place and pops open easily when it snags on clothing.

The Speedmaster Professional is a very fine watch that you will be proud to wear and give to your children. The only mechanical watch ever to pass NASA's tests and be certified for use during launches and extra-vehicular activity (EVA). The first and last watch worn on the Moon. The Speedmaster Professional holds a unique place in watch history. Nothing else even comes close.

Or does it? If you want a watch more modern than the Speedmaster Professional, one that is also flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions and is the current favorite wrist chronograph of astronauts and cosmonauts alike, there is the Speedmaster X-33. The Speedmaster X-33 is made entirely of non-allergenic titanium and features several higher functions OMEGA incorporated at the request of NASA astronauts and other flight crews.

Unlike the Speedmaster Professional, the Speedmaster X-33 is constructed entirely of titanium. NASA specified titanium for its light weight, corrosion resistance, and for its nonmagnetic properties and anti-allergenic properties. The Speedmaster X-33 is feather-light compared to the stainless steel Speedmaster Professional.

The Speedmaster X-33 is a very modern watch that incorporates both analog and digital displays. Traditionalists may be offended by the Speedmaster X-33's modern appearance. However, it cannot reasonably be denied that the Speedmaster X-33 has a definite beauty of its own. The Speedmaster X-33's beauty lies in its functionality rather than in traditional concepts of beauty. There is no other wrist chronograph so suited for use by astronauts, cosmonauts, and flight crews.

The Speedmaster X-33 features an array of functions requested by NASA and other flight crews. In the photo above, the digital functions have been turned off and the watch is functioning like a standard analog wristwatch. The time registered by the hands is 03:09:24. The analog hands do not differentiate between A.M. and P.M.

The digital time function is different. Depress the crown and the digital time displays on the LCD background. In this photo, the analog hands are reading 03:32:19. The digital time display is reading 15:32:19. The digital time display automatically reads the time in military time.

The Speedmaster X-33 also features a day/date function. The digital day/date function is reading "WED 27.08.03", which means the day and date are "Wednesday, August 27, 2003".

A key function on the Speedmaster X-33 is mission elapsed time. Many duties on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station (ISS) are performed, not on absolute time, but rather on mission elapsed time, i.e., how many days or hours or minutes after launch. The Speedmaster X-33 provides a separate timer for mission elapsed time. In this photo, the mission elapsed timer is reading 13:21, meaning 13 minutes and 21 seconds have elapsed since the initiation of the mission elapsed timer.

Because so many functions are scheduled based on mission elapsed time and not on absolute time, the Speedmaster X-33 features a mission alarm function. The mission alarm can be set to go off at any preset time during the mission.

The Space Shuttle is on central time because Mission Control is located in Houston at the Johnson Space Center. The ISS is on Greenwich Mean Time or Universal Time. A particular astronaut could be from California and his loved ones could be on Pacific Standard Time. To keep track of the different time zones or several different experiments, astronauts often wear several watches. This astronaut wears two Speedmaster X-33's, one with a titanium bracelet and the other with black kevlar strap. The different straps are probably to differentiate the two watches at a glance in case he ever takes off the watches.

To keep track of GMT or a second time zone chosen by the wearer, the Speedmaster X-33 has a Universal Time function. While this Speedmaster X-33's analog hands read a time of 03:14:48, the Universal Timer reads: "UT 239/22:14:48", which translates into the 239th day of the year, 03:14:48 p.m.

There is also a Universal Alarm function, which will buzz at a preset Universal Time. In the photograph above, the Universal Alarm is turned off.

No NASA wrist chronograph would be complete with out a chronograph function, and the Speedmaster X-33 features one. This photo depicts the Speedmaster X-33 in chronograph mode, with the timer set at zero and ready.

To start the chronograph function, simply depress the two o'clock pusher and the chronograph will initiate. The Speedmaster X-33's chronograph function is accurate to 1/100th of a second.

The last of the Speedmaster X-33's higher functions is the Countdown Timer. Merely set any amount of time on the Countdown Timer you wish and initiate when appropriate. The watch will begin counting down and the alarm will ring when the timer reaches zero.

All of the Speedmaster X-33's higher functions can easily be turned off so that the watch will act like any standard wristwatch and be very legible.

The Speedmaster X-33 features a bi-directional rotating bezel. The bezel features minute markings from five to 60 seconds. Older versions of the Speedmaster X-33 featured a stainless steel insert in the bezel. Users found the stainless insert unattractive and OMEGA recently changed the bezel to a full-titanium design. We sell only the latest version of the Speedmaster X-33 with the all-titanium bezel.

The raised and depressed circumference of the rotating bezel provides a much better grip and positive finger index than knurled bezels. NASA astronauts requested the raised and depressed bezel circumference so that they could easily manipulate the bezel even while wearing an EVA gauntlet.

The clicks on the bi-rotating bezel are very fine. Each minute on the dial subtends two clicks on the bezel. In other words, it takes two clicks of the bezel to move one minute. In the photo above, the bezel's dot is lying between minute hash marks. The bezel's clicks are both audible and tactile so that the wearer can sense the bezel's movements whatever his environment.

At the top of the rotating bezel is a self-luminous dot. This luminous dot combined with the bezel's rotating ability permit the wearer to use the Speedmaster X-33 as a crude timer or countdown timer.

The rotating bezel can be used as a crude timer. To time in minutes, simply align the bezel's luminous dot with the minute hand when you want to initiate timing. The bezel will remain stationary but the minute hand will continue to tick away and move with the passage of time. When the timed event is over, note how many minutes the the minute hand has moved from the luminous dot. This function works with the second, minute, and hour hands as a crude but effective timer.

The bezel can also be used as a crude countdown timer. In the photograph above, the minute hand is at 31 minutes. If the user wants to know when 43 minutes have elapsed, he can rotate the bezel so that it rests at the 14-minute point on the dial. When the minute hand reaches the luminous dot, 43 minutes will have elapsed.

We sell only the latest version of the Speedmaster X-33. Note how the crown on the latest model differs from the older models. Previous versions of the Speedmaster X-33 featured a knurled crown. This did not make sense, as the Speedmaster X-33 features a quartz movement and does not need to be wound. The latest Speedmaster X-33 feature a crown with circular grooves.

Opposite the crown is the raised portion of the case. This raised portion helps to index the fingers when depressing the crown to select which of the watch's higher functions one wants to use.

The pushers on the current Speedmaster X-33 have the dull titanium finish found on the rest of the watch. Older Speedmaster X-33's featured polished pushers.

The titanium caseback on the Speedmaster X-33 is engraved with the words "FLIGHT QUALIFIED BY NASA FOR SPACE MISSIONS". This is no idle boast, as NASA has subjected the Speedmaster X-33 to grueling tests and officially flight-qualified the Speedmaster X-33 for wear by its astronauts. Ever since its first mission on STS-89, the Speedmaster X-33 has become easily the most popular of the four wristwatches officially flight-qualified by NASA.

The caseback features eight cutouts in the side for the watch's 80db alarm. The Speedmaster X-33 features separate alarms for time, mission elapsed time, universal time, and countdown timer. The alarm is both audible and tactile to the wearer. This is important as the Speedmaster X-33 is intended to be worn during EVA, and sound does not carry in space.

The Speedmaster X-33's titanium bracelet is machined just as precisely as the rest of the watch. Contrast this with the cast components found on lesser titanium watches.

Just as with the Speedmaster Professional's bracelet, the Speedmaster X-33's bracelet might be described as a hybrid between the Jubilee and Oyster bracelets featured on current Rolex watches. The bracelet links are oval in shape and very comfortable to the wrist. There is no sharp edge anywhere on the bracelet or clasp. Again, no stamped component is ever used. The links are solid titanium and very easy to clean.

The Speedmaster X-33's bracelet features a dual-tone effect, with polished accents on an otherwise brushed finish. Polished pieces flank the center links in the bracelet for a pleasing effect.

The bracelet's links are very flexible and comfortable to wear.

The Speedmaster X-33's clasp is identical to the clasp found on the current Speedmaster Professional, except it is machined out of titanium rather than stainless steel.

The clasp folds on itself to close.

Just like the clasp on the Speedmaster Professional, the Speedmaster X-33's clasp locks against a flared stud.

Here is a view of the clasp open.

And here is a view of the clasp locked in the closed position. The clasp will not open unless the buttons on each side of the clasp are depressed simultaneously.

Speedmaster fans will not be disappointed by the Speedmaster X-33.

It would not suit EE's reputation to sell imitation items, and we make no exception for the Speedmaster Professional. We sell only genuine OMEGA watches manufactured by OMEGA Ltd. in Bienne, Switzerland. How do you know if a watch is a genuine OMEGA watch? The easiest way to know for sure is to remove the steel caseback and look at the movement. However, most people lack the tools necessary to remove the caseback without damaging the watch. There are, however, several other indicia of a genuine OMEGA watch that are patently visible to the aware purchaser.

First, look at the overall fit and finish. OMEGA watches are manufactured to an extremely high standard. If your watch looks and feels like the real deal, that is a good indicator that it is a genuine OMEGA product. If your watch looks and feels like a fake, it probably is.

Look at the dial and the bezel. If the name on the dial reads "ONEGA" or "Speadmaster", then obviously you have a fake watch. But much more than the name on the dial, look for signs of the superb quality control that goes into every OMEGA watch. OMEGA watches come from the factory in absolutely pristine condition and with protective tape on the crystal, bracelet, and clasp. If your watch has even the slightest scratches on it (and watches finished as finely as OMEGA watches easily show even the smallest scratches), you were sold a used watch. We sell only brand new OMEGA watches. Every watch we ship is pristine within the OMEGA box with all protective tape still attached to the watch.

"OMEGA" is not engraved anywhere on the case, but current Speedmaster Professionals are engraved in several different areas. All 3570.50.00 models of the Speedmaster Professional have "849" engraved on the bracelet. All casebacks are engraved with the famous words, "FLIGHT-QUALIFIED BY NASA FOR ALL MANNED SPACE MISSIONS; THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON". The Hippocampus is deep-relief engraved onto the caseback.

All 3291.50.00 models of the Speedmaster X-33 feature a caseback with "FLIGHT-QUALIFIED BY NASA FOR SPACE MISSIONS" engraved with the EDM process. A Hippocampus is similarly engraved into the center of the caseback. The caseback is bolted to the case with nine titanium screws.

The laser-engraved serial number is where most fake or gray market OMEGA watches are caught. Most fake OMEGA watches lack the factory serial number. Many gray market OMEGA watches are genuine OMEGA watches but were brought into the United States without the knowledge or consent of OMEGA Ltd. To hide their point of origin, the serial number is polished off. Even if you have a genuine OMEGA watch, the watch will not be serviced by OMEGA if the serial number is missing, as OMEGA will presume the watch was stolen from its rightful owner. Watches without the serial number also cannot be traced in the event of theft. All OMEGA watches we sell come with the factory serial number intact.

The crown on both the Speedmaster Professional and Speedmaster X-33 feature a raised-relief OMEGA logo.

Look carefully at the center of the Speedmaster Professional's crystal. You will see a tiny OMEGA logo in the middle of it. Only genuine OMEGA crystals feature the OMEGA mark on the Speedmaster Professional.

The clasp on the Speedmaster Professional's bracelet is lightly roll marked with the date of manufacture and the bracelet model number, as well as the OMEGA trademark. Individual links on the bracelet are also engraved with direction indicators and lot codes. OMEGA manufacturing codes are laser-engraved on the clasp.

The Speedmaster X-33's bracelet is similarly marked, but with laser engravings instead of roll markings.

The clasps on both the Speedmaster Professional and Speedmaster X-33 are marked with the OMEGA and Speedmaster trademarks and manufactured to a very high standard. Making a fake to this high a standard would cost just as much as buying a genuine bracelet from OMEGA. When you buy your Speedmaster from EE, rest assured that you are buying a genuine OMEGA watch that is unaltered from its factory condition. That is, the serial number remains on the case and the watch is pristine and absolutely unused.

The OMEGA Speedmaster Professional has a long and storied history in space flight. The Speedmaster Professional was the first watch worn into the vacuum and temperature extremes of space; it was the first and last watch worn on the Moon; it was the watch worn by both astronauts and cosmonauts in the Apollo-Soyuz mission. And it is still worn today by various Space Shuttle and ISS flight crews.

While the Moon Watch is still worn today, the Speedmaster X-33 is the dominant wrist chronograph worn by astronauts and cosmonauts alike aboard the Space Shuttle and the ISS.

The OMEGA Speedmaster reigns supreme. In fact, there has been an OMEGA Speedmaster on every single American space flight since Wally Schirra first wore his Speedmaster when he orbited the Earth six times in his Sigma VII spacecraft back in 1962. The only other piece of space equipment to enjoy this kind of longevity and universal use by those who venture into space is the Swiss Army Knife. Though the OMEGA Speedmaster was not the first watch worn in a spacecraft, no other watch is so closely tied with space exploration. However, it was not always so.

April 12, 1961 - Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space. Gagarin does not wear a watch in space.

May 5, 1961 - Freedom 7, the first piloted Mercury spacecraft, carrying Alan Shepard, is launched from Cape Canaveral by Mercury Redstone launch vehicle, to an altitude of 115 nautical miles and a range of 302 miles. It was the first American space flight involving a human being. Shepard demonstrated that individuals could control a vehicle during weightlessness and high G stresses, and significant scientific biomedical data were acquired. Shepard reached a speed of 5,100 miles per hour and his flight lasted only 14.8 minutes. Thus, Shepard declined to wear a wristwatch for this short mission.

May 25, 1961 - President Kennedy is greatly encouraged by the first American in space and, in a Special Joint Session of Congress, makes the public announcement: "I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important in the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish." The space race between the Soviet Union and the United States officially begins.

May 24, 1962 - Scott Carpenter becomes the first American to wear a wristwatch aboard a spacecraft when he wears a Breitling Cosmonaute while piloting his Mercury VII spacecraft for three orbits around the Earth.

October 3, 1962 - Wally Schirra wears an OMEGA Speedmaster on his Mercury VIII, flight which completes six orbits around the Earth. This is the first spaceflight for the Speedmaster. NASA thereafter decides that future Gemini and Apollo missions will require the astronauts to wear a highly accurate, legible, resistant, and reliable wrist chronograph. For the purpose of comparison tests and possible future issuance to its flight crews, NASA sends a purchaser incognito to Corrigan's, a large Houston retailer of fine watches. The purchaser buys wrist chronographs from a dozen different brands and returns them to NASA for testing. The watch manufacturers are not informed of the project.

September 21, 1964: Deke Slayton, fellow Mercury astronaut and director of flight crew operations for NASA, drafts a memorandum to the Procurement and Contracts Division of NASA, stating the need for a standard flight crew wrist chronograph for all NASA astronauts:

The memorandum contains a "Suggested List of Manufacturers", which includes to the top watch makers of the day:

Elgin
Benrus
Hamilton
Mido
Lucien Piccard
OMEGA
Bulova
Rolex
Longines
Gruen

Slayton's memorandum also contains a "Statement of Specifications", consisting of the following:

The same memorandum outlines the testing criteria for this official wrist chronograph. To be "flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions", a wrist chronograph must pass all of the following tests numerous times without failure of any kind:

NASA performs the tests several times on the various wrist chronographs it previously obtained. Only the OMEGA Speedmaster passes NASA's rigorous testing. All of the other watches fail NASA's tests.

March 1, 1965 - NASA, in a memorandum drafted on this date, outlines the results of its tests on the various wrist chronographs:

Because of the Speedmaster's overwhelmingly superior performance and the unanimous preference for the OMEGA by the flight crews, NASA type classifies the Speedmaster for issuance to its flight crews.

The Speedmaster is put into inventory for issuance to astronauts,

and special gauntlets are prepared future EVA's. And the rest, as they say, is history.

June 4, 1965 - NASA's environmental testing and official issuance of the Speedmaster are put to the test for the first time when Edward White becomes the first American to perform an EVA during his historic Gemini IV mission. To the left forearm of White's EVA suit is strapped a Speedmaster with a special extended Velcro strap. Though Alexei Leonov had performed the first spacewalk three months earlier during his Voskhod 2 mission, Leonov did not wear a watch on the outside of his EVA suit. Thus, the Speedmaster becomes the first watch to be worn into the vacuum and temperature extremes of space. Before this event, it was highly uncertain whether a watch could withstand space conditions without malfunctioning or being destroyed. The Speedmaster proved that the right watch could.

White also becomes the first man to propel himself in space when he uses a specially designed compressed gas "space gun" that emits compressed air. White uses his Speedmaster to track the amount of time he is outside his Gemini IV spacecraft and to time the "burn" of his space gun. White's EVA lasts a total of 23 minutes. White initially uses the space gun held in his right hand. After the first three minutes, the fuel in the space gun depletes and and White maneuvers by twisting his body and pulling on the eight-meter tether. When White is informed that he must return the spacecraft, he later describes the experience as "the saddest moment in my life".

The above photograph of Edward White made the Speedmaster instantly recognizable. OMEGA did not even know NASA was issuing Speedmasters until the publication of the mission photographs. Upon seeing the photos, OMEGA did a little digging and discovered that NASA had officially flight-qualified the Speedmaster for all manned space missions. OMEGA then changed the name of the Speedmaster to "Speedmaster Professional". The name remains unchanged to this day. Also of historical note is the American Flag on White's left shoulder. Gemini IV was the first NASA mission in which the Astronauts' suits displayed the American Flag. This practice also remains unchanged to this day.

This is the actual Speedmaster worn by Edward White during his historic EVA. It is still operational today. The watch was engraved "NASA 41987" with an electric pencil, which indicates this watch is government property. Note the absence of the word "Professional" on the dial and the absence of flutes on the horns, features which exist on current Speedmaster Professionals.

Though Edward White's Speedmaster was government property, it was presented to Edward White's wife after Edward White was killed in the Apollo I fire. This watch is now in possession of Edward White's son.

August 21, 1965 - Gemini V astronauts Gordon Cooper (foreground) and Pete Conrad leave the suiting trailer at Pad 16 during the Gemini V countdown at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Cooper wears a Speedmaster on each forearm, both with extended Velcro straps. Conrad wears a Speedmaster on his left forearm, also with an extended Velcro strap. Though not visible in this photograph, Conrad wears another two watches on his right forearm. Gemini V doubles the previous spaceflight record to eight days, thanks to new fuel cells that generate enough electricity to power the longer missions that will be required to reach the Moon. Mercury veteran Cooper becomes the first man to travel into space twice. Onboard medical tests during the Gemini V mission continue to show the feasibility of longer flights in space without detrimental effect on the human body.

November 12, 1966 - Buzz Aldrin, pilot of the Gemini XII spacecraft, performs an EVA during the second day of the four-day mission in space with Jim Lovell. Aldrin is attached to a nine-meter tether. Aldrin first works in the hatch and nose area of the spacecraft, and then moves along a handrail he had installed to the adapter section where he uses foot restraints and tethers to position himself in front of a work panel where he then performs 17 relatively simple manual tasks. Aldrin then moves to the target vehicle adapter area and carries out another series of tasks, including the use of a torque wrench while tethered. Aldrin then attaches a 30-meter tether stowed in the GATV adapter to the Gemini adapter bar. About a dozen two-minute rest periods are scheduled during the EVA to prevent Aldrin from becoming overtaxed as had happened to previous spacewalkers like Eugene Cernan. All of Aldrin's scheduled tasks are accomplished and total EVA time is two hours and six minutes. During the EVA, Aldrin wears two Speedmaster Professionals, one on each forearm and both with extended Velcro straps. Gemini XII is the last Gemini mission. Thereafter, NASA will begin the Apollo series of missions.

December 21, 1968 - Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders (all wearing Speedmaster Professionals) launch the Apollo VIII mission atop a Saturn V booster from the Kennedy Space Center for a historic mission to orbit the Moon. Apollo VIII makes one and a half Earth orbits and then ignites its third-stage rockets to propel the spacecraft toward a lunar trajectory.

As the spacecraft travels outward the crew focuses a portable television camera on the Earth and for the first time in history, humanity sees its home from afar, "a tiny, lovely, and fragile blue marble" hanging in the blackness of space. When the Apollo VIII modules arrive at the Moon on Christmas Eve this image of Earth is even more strongly reinforced when the crew sends images of the Earth back while reading the first part of the Bible:

The crew then sends Christmas greetings to all of humanity. The next day they fire the boosters for a return flight and "splash down" in the Pacific Ocean on December 27, 1968.

NASA continued to use the Speedmaster Professional for its Apollo training missions to the Moon. These Apollo X astronauts leave the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building for the launch pad. Strapped to their space suits are Speedmaster Professionals. Apollo X was a continuation of the separation and docking procedures practiced during the Apollo IX mission, but with with several additional separations and reconnections between the Lunar and Command Modules while orbiting the Moon. The Apollo X LM reached an altitude of only nine miles above the Moon's surface. The temptation for the LM astronauts to land on the Moon must have been almost irresistible.

This is the actual Speedmaster Professional worn by mission commander Thomas Stafford during the Apollo X mission in May, 1969. This watch is now a part of the "Apollo to the Moon" exhibit of historical artifacts on public display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Note how this watch differs from Edward White's Speedmaster. The dial on Stafford's watch is designated "Professional" and case features guards flanking the crown and pushers, as on current Speedmaster models. This watch features a Velcro strap not of the type used on the NASA missions. The standard black Velcro strap used by NASA flight crews is a full 640 mm in length to permit wearing over the bulky EVA suits. Somebody at the Smithsonian must have replaced the strap with another type.

June, 1969 - Final preparations are underway for the historic Apollo XI mission. Everything is catalogued and recorded for this historic mission, including the astronauts' suits and gear. Both Armstrong and Aldrin will wear their Speedmaster Professionals during the historic mission.

The Apollo XI crew leave the suiting room and walk to the van that will transport them to their Saturn V launch vehicle. This is the first Moon mission, and hopes are high all around.

July 20, 1969 - "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed". Man sets foot upon the Moon. Buzz Aldrin, LM pilot, descends the steps of the LM's ladder as he prepares to walk on the Moon. Neil Armstrong, commander of the Apollo XI mission and the first man to set foot on the Moon, takes this photograph with a handheld Hasselblad 70mm lunar surface camera with Carl Zeiss lens. Six hours after Eagle touched down on the Moon's surface, Armstrong takes his famous "one giant leap for mankind" and sets foot on the Moon's surface. Aldrin then joins Armstrong, and the two spend two and a half hours drilling core samples, taking photographs, and collecting almost 21 kilograms of lunar rocks. When they leave, the two moonwalkers leave behind scientific instruments, an American Flag, and a plaque bearing the inscription: "Here Men From Planet Earth First Set Foot Upon the Moon. July 1969 A.D.".

This is perhaps the most famous of all moonwalk photos. The photo depicts Buzz Aldrin and was taken by Neil Armstrong. Look closely at Aldrin's right wrist. To his gauntlet is strapped a Speedmaster Professional. While Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the Moon, he did not wear his Speedmaster Professional on the Moon's surface. The mission timer in the LM malfunctioned during the descent to the Moon's surface, and Armstrong left his Speedmaster in the LM to serve as a makeshift replacement for the broken mission timer. Thus, Buzz Aldrin has the distinction of being the first man to wear a watch on the Moon, and the OMEGA Speedmaster Professional has the distinction of being the first watch worn on the Moon. Regrettably, Aldrin's historic timepiece was later lost when Aldrin mailed his Speedmaster Professional to the Smithsonian and it turned up missing. For a supersize version of this photo, click here.

The Speedmasters worn by Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, however, were not lost or stolen. These historic timepieces are on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Inspired by the success of the Apollo XI mission, NASA trains for the Apollo XII mission. While training indoors at the Cape, Apollo XII LM pilot Alan Bean holds a sample bag containing soil. Bean's Moon Watch with ivory-colored Velcro strap is clearly visible. For a supersize version of this photo, click here.

November 14, 1969 - Pete Conrad suits up prior to the launch of the Apollo XII mission, which he will command. To his left forearm is strapped a Speedmaster Professional.

Bean also wore his Moon Watch on his left forearm. Both Conrad and Bean will wear their Speedmaster Professionals on the Moon. Note that Bean's Moon Watch is fitted with a black Velcro strap instead of the ivory-colored strap Bean used during training.

Alan Bean holds a special environmental sample container filled with lunar soil collected during the EVA in which mission commander Pete Conrad and Bean participated. Conrad, who took this picture with his 70mm Hasselblad camera, is reflected in Bean's helmet visor. Look closely at Bean's left forearm. This may well be the clearest photo of a Speedmaster Professional during an EVA. For a supersize version of this photo, click here. Note the Carl Zeiss markings around the lens on the supersize image.

April 11, 1970 - Jim Lovell, commander of the Apollo XIII mission, suits up prior to the launch. To his right wrist is strapped a Speedmaster Professional. As incredible as it sounds, the Speedmaster Professional was instrumental in getting the Apollo XIII crew back to earth safely.

Command Module pilot Jack Swigert awaits his turn to enter the Saturn V rocket that will launch him and his Apollo XIII crewmates Jim Lovell and Fred Haise into outer space. To Swigert's left forearm is strapped his Speedmaster Professional. Swigert has no idea how important this will watch will be in the next few days.

The Apollo XIII crew are strapped in and ready to be launched. Their mission will later go horribly wrong when an explosion in the service module ruptures and damages several of the power, electrical, and life support systems. The crew are forced to switch down all power circuits with the exception of the radio. All navigation computers and timers must be shut down to conserve power for life support.

A group of eight astronauts and flight controllers monitor the console activity in the Mission Operations Control Room of the Mission Control Center during the Apollo XIII lunar landing mission. Seated, left to right, are Guidance Officer Raymond Teague, and astronauts Edgar Mitchell and Alan Shepard. Standing, left to right, are scientist-astronaut Anthony England, astronauts Joe Engle, Eugene Cernan, and Ronald Evans, and flight controller M.P. Frank. People throughout the world watch and wait and hope as NASA personnel on the ground and the Apollo XIII crew, well on their way to the Moon and with no way of returning until they go around it, work together to find a way to get the crew back home. While NASA engineers quickly determine that sufficient air, water, and electricity do not exist in the Command Module to sustain the three astronauts until they can return to Earth, they find that the LM can be used as a "lifeboat" to provide austere life support for a return trip.

April 17, 1970: The Speedmaster Professional contributes actively to rescuing the Apollo XIII mission. With all navigation computers and timers shut down, the Apollo XIII crew are forced to use their Speedmaster Professionals to time the fraction-of-a-second rocket firing for re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere - a time window of 14 seconds with a 10% margin of error. Any slight deviation will send the vessel into the infinity of space and the crew to certain death. Jim Lovell and Fred Haise pilot the spacecraft manually, while Jack Swigert times the duration of the correct burn required with his Speedmaster Professional. With only the ticking of their OMEGA watches breaking the dramatic silence, the crew successfully pull away from lunar orbit and return to Earth - saved by their Speedmaster Professionals.

The performance of the Speedmaster Professional earned OMEGA the coveted "Snoopy Award", the astronauts' highest award given to individuals or companies that make a substantial contribution toward the success of manned space flight. This informal honor is neither a paid sponsorship nor an award that is handed out to all. The Snoopy Award is no small honor and is reserved only for highly deserving recipients. OMEGA treated this accolade accordingly and today the actual Snoopy Award presented to OMEGA by the Apollo XIII crew is on permanent exhibit in the OMEGA Museum in Bienne, Switzerland.

January 31, 1971 - The Speedmaster Professional had proven itself again, and NASA continues to issue the Speedmaster Professional to crews after the aborted Apollo XIII mission. Here, Alan Shepard, commander of the Apollo XIV mission, suits up prior to launch. To his left forearm is strapped a Speedmaster Professional. The first American in space will venture into space once again and walk on the Moon.

Ed Mitchell adjusts one of his two backup watches. While the watch on his left forearm is a Moon Watch, Mitchell's two backup watches appear to be something other than Speedmaster Pro's. For a supersize version of this photo, click here.

This is the actual watch worn by Shepard during the Apollo XIV mission and on the Moon. The dial is marked with the current "Professional" designation, but the caseback predates the current caseback which features the deep-relief engraved hippocampus and the legendary words, "FLIGHT-QUALIFIED BY NASA FOR ALL MANNED SPACE MISSIONS; THE FIRST WATCH WORN ON THE MOON". Shepard wore this watch outside his EVA suit and the watch was exposed to numerous decompressions during training and in space, the vacuum of space, extreme cold temperatures in the shade, and extreme heat in the sunlight. However, the watch still operates perfectly today.

Ed Mitchell's actual Moon Watch is on permanent display at the Kennedy Space Center.

Here is a close-up of Mitchell's Moon Watch.

Commander John Young rakes some Moon soil during the Apollo XVI mission. Note the lunar soil kicked up by Young's taking a step with his right foot. Most of the particles have moved out the same distance from his boot. In the wider view, note the rougher texture of the surface where John and Charlie have walked. Young's Moon Watch is set on Houston time and reads 1:20 or 1:21. A transcript time of 169:27:30 corresponds to 1:21:30 on April 23, 1972. Transcript times are known to have absolute uncertainties of a minute or more, so the agreement is quite satisfactory. For a supersize version of this photo, click here.

November, 1972 - Apollo XVII LM Challenger pilot and scientist Jack Schmitt shares a moment of relaxation with fellow astronaut Alan Shepard during prelaunch suiting operations. Schmitt is slated to explore the Moon's Taurus-Littrow region with mission commander Eugene Cernan during NASA's sixth and last manned lunar landing mission. The third crewman, Ronald Evans, will pilot the command module America alone in lunar orbit during his crewmates' surface EVA. Like both of his Apollo XVII crewmates, Schmitt wears the Speedmaster Professional with an extended Velcro strap.

December 13, 1972 - Eugene Cernan, Apollo XVII commander, salutes the deployed American Flag on the lunar surface during EVA on man's last lunar landing. Challenger is at left background and the Lunar Roving Vehicle, also in the background, is partially obscured by Cernan's figure. Cernan wears two Speedmaster Professionals, one on his left forearm and one on his right wrist and both with extended Velcro straps. The photo was taken by scientist-astronaut Jack Schmitt with a handheld Hasselblad camera.

December 13, 1972 - Eugene Cernan approaches the parked Lunar Roving Vehicle on the lunar surface during the the mission's third EVA. South Massif can be seen in the background. To Cernan's left forearm is strapped a Speedmaster Professional. Cernan and Schmidt collect a record of 108.86 kilograms of rocks during three moonwalks. The crew roam for 33.80 kilometers through the Taurus-Littrow valley in their Rover, and even discovered some orange-colored soil.

The Apollo XVII crew leave behind a plaque attached to Challenger which reads: "Here Man Completed His First Exploration Of The Moon. December 1972 A.D.". Eugene Cernan's Moon Watch is clearly visible in this photo.

December 17, 1972 - Ronald Evans performs an EVA during the Apollo XVII spacecraft's transearth coast. During his EVA, Evans retrieves film cassettes from the Lunar Sounder, Mapping Camera, and Panoramic Camera. The cylindrical object at Evans' left side is the Mapping Camera cassette. The total time for the transearth EVA is one hour, seven minutes, 18 seconds, starting at ground elapsed time of 257:25 (2:28 p.m.) and ending at ground elapsed timed of 258:42 (3:35 p.m.) on Sunday, December 17, 1972. Evans wears a Speedmaster Professional strapped to his left forearm, and uses the watch to measure the amount of time he walks in space.

This is the actual Speedmaster Professional worn by Ronald Evans during the Apollo XVII mission. Though the dial has yellowed considerably from age and from exposure to the heat and intensity of unfiltered sunlight in space, the watch still operates perfectly.

Apollo XVII was the last Moon mission. Man would never set foot on the Moon again. The Moon missions were officially over, and an era had ended.

This is Eugene Cernan today. He chats with OMEGA Chairman Nicolas Hayek about his experiences on the Moon while wearing his Speedmaster Professional. Behind the two men is Cernan's moon suit and one of his Speedmaster Professionals.

July 17, 1975 - Astronaut Tom Stafford and cosmonaut Alexei Leonov shake hands after opening the docking module between the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft. The Apollo-Soyuz mission is a historic mission - the first ever to be managed jointly by two nations--the Soviet Union and the United States--during the height of the Cold War. The idea for this mission was born as early as 1970 and was officially set in motion in 1972 by President Nixon and Premier Kossygin signing an agreement concerning the Apollo-Soyuz program. This mission is widely considered to have laid the foundation for future cooperation between nations in the field of space exploration, exemplified today by the ISS.

The hands of cosmonaut Valerly Kubasov are seen as the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project engineer adds his signature to the Soviet side of the official joint certificate marking an historical moment during Rendezvous Day. The left hand of astronaut Deke Slayton, NASA's docking module pilot, is seen at the top of the photograph. On the wrists of both crews during this historic mission are OMEGA wrist chronographs. The Speedmaster Professional is worn by Americans Stafford, Slayton, and Brand, and the Soviet Kubasov. Alexei Leonov wears an OMEGA Flightmaster, a wrist chronograph similar to the Speedmaster Mark II but with additional GMT functions. The cosmonauts have used OMEGA Speedmasters ever since and still do today.

The Space Shuttle Discovery soars skyward from Launch Pad 39B on STS-64 at 6:22:35 p.m. EDT, September 9, 1994. On board are a crew of six: commander Richard Richards; pilot Blaine Hammond; and mission specialists Mark Lee, Carl Meade, Susan Helms, and J.M. Linenger. Payloads for the flight include the Lidar InSpace Technology Experiment, the Shuttle Pointed Autonomous Research Tool for Astronomy 201, and the Robot Operated Processing System. Mission specialists Lee and Meade also perform an EVA. OMEGA Speedmaster Professional wrist chronographs are on board.

While three other watches are currently "flight-qualified by NASA for all manned space missions", the astronauts' affection for the Speedmaster Professional endures. Astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, STS-73 mission specialist, works on an IBM ThinkPad within the science module of the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Columbia. Lopez-Alegria is one of seven crew members in the midst of a 16-day multifaceted mission aboard Columbia. For the next week and a half, the crew would continue working in shifts around the clock on a diverse assortment of United States Microgravity Laboratory experiments located in the science module. Fields of study included fluid physics, materials science, biotechnology, combustion science, and commercial space processing technologies. Lopez-Alegria wears two Speedmaster Professionals, one with what appears to be an OMEGA black kevlar strap and the other with a rubber strap.

Today, the Speedmaster X-33 is the wrist chronograph of choice. Here, cosmonaut Yuri Lonchakov (left) of Rosaviakosmos and astronaut Chris Hadfield of the Canadian Space Agency, are about to be joined by astronaut Scott Parazynski (background) as the three STS-100 mission specialists take time on the mid-deck of the Space Shuttle Endeavour for a meal. All three men wear Speedmaster X-33's with black kevlar straps. The Microgravity conditions in orbit permit the men to leave their food floating while attending to other tasks.

Astronaut Umberto Guidoni, mission specialist representing the European Space Agency (ESA) totes some notebooks of STS-100 mission data on the flight deck of the Earth-orbiting Endeavour as the seven-member crew heads for a rendezvous with the ISS. Guidoni wears a Speedmaster X-33 with black kevlar strap. Whether American, Russian, Canadian, or Italian, the almost-universal preference is for the OMEGA.

Astronaut Steven Lindsey, STS-104 mission commander, attired in a training version of the shuttle launch and entry garment, prepares for a training session at the Jake Garn Simulation and Training Facility. Lindsey will join four other astronauts for a mission with the ISS. While personal watches may be logged as flight equipment and worn during a mission, they cannot be worn during the launch or during EVA for safety reasons. Only watches tested and flight-qualified by NASA may be worn during the launch or EVA. Lindsey wears a Speedmaster X-33 with black kevlar strap.

Billows of smoke and steam surround Space Shuttle Atlantis as it blasts into the pre-dawn sky on mission STS-104. Atlantis lifted off from Launch Pad 39B on time at 5:03:59 a.m. EDT. The 10th assembly flight to the ISS, the mission is delivering the joint airlock module, which will require two EVA's to attach the module to the ISS. The airlock will be the primary path for ISS EVA entry and departure for NASA space suits, and will also support the Russian Orlan space suit for EVA.

Astronaut Scott Altman, STS-106 pilot, simulates control of the Remote Manipulator System for Atlantis during a training session in the Johnson Space Center's Systems Integration Facility. To Altman's left wrist is strapped a Speedmaster X-33.

Columbia passes through some pre-dawn clouds as it soars into the sky to begin its 27th flight, STS-109. Liftoff occurred at 6:22:02:08 a.m., EST (11:22:02:08 GMT). The goal of the mission is the maintenance and upgrade of the Hubble Space Telescope, to be carried out in five separate EVA's. On board the spacecraft are astronauts Scott Altman, Duane Carey, Nancy Currie, John Grunsfeld, James Newman, Richard Linnehan and Michael Massimino.

Three Expedition Five STS-112 crew members pose for a photo in the ISS' Destiny Laboratory. Left to right are mission commander cosmonaut Valery Korzun, and flight engineers astronaut Peggy Whitson and cosmonaut Sergei Treschev. Korzun and Treschev represent Rosaviakosmos. Whitson and Treschev both wear Speedmaster X-33's with black kevlar straps. Whether American or Russian, male or female, the the preference for OMEGA wrist chronographs is clear.

Astronaut Sandra Magnus, STS-112 mission specialist, and Peggy Whitson work the controls of the Canadarm2 from inside the ISS' Destiny Laboratory. Magnus and Whitson use the ISS' robotic arm to lift the Starboard One (S1) Truss out of Atlantis' payload bay and move it into position on the starboard end of the S-Zero Truss. Both astronauts wear Speedmaster X-33's with black kevlar straps.

Later, Magnus prepares to eat a meal on the aft flight deck of Atlantis. Her Speedmaster X-33 with black kevlar strap is floating in the Microgravity conditions, just like her tortillas and utensils.

Backdropped against Earth's horizon, the ISS is seen following its undocking with Atlantis. The Speedmaster X-33 is as popular aboard the ISS as it is on the Space Shuttle.

Expedition Three mission commander Frank Culbertson, conducts in-flight maintenance with a Snap-on torque wrench in the ISS' Unit Node One. The ratchet extension, 1/4" nut driver, hex socket, and 1/4" ratchet are all Snap-on as well. Culbertson wears two Speedmaster X-33's, both with black kevlar straps. For a supersize version of this photo, click here.