RE: Moon Phases. A Very Significant Anniversary.

Was there an IWC wristwatch back in 1969 with a moon phase display? What is Lunar Module Pilot Buzz Aldrin wearing here?

This photo, taken by famed Astronaut Neil Armstrong 40 years ago from today, reveals that NASA was perhaps not as concerned with lightweight instruments - allowing Buzz to take his prized 18k Gold IWC Perpetual Calendar on this important mission.

Now, seriously.

The link below is a NASA Video from their Apollo Lunar Documents Library. Perhaps IWC is working with them on the next generation of lunar instruments.

Happy Anniversary, Mankind.

5 Minute, 14 Second NASA Video of First Steps on Moon

I bet the watch that first visited Moon

was picked by persons who had little or no knowledge about watches.
Anyway thanks for the photoshop and the video link Richard.

Argiris

The moon watch ...

The first watches that were worn in space, and subsequently on the moon, were subject to a battery of tests by NASA. The standards were extreme, and several watches were tested. The majority of them failed the tests (warping hands, watches just stopping, etc...) The only one that made it through the tests was the Omega Speedmaster.

The astronauts themselves were also asked, irrespective of the test results, which watch they preferred; it happened to be the Omega as well.

Note that the watches that were tested were not subject to any special modifications either; the watch companies knew that it was NASA requesting the watches, but they didn't know, at the time, their ultimate purpose. The watches were also re-tested for subsequent space missions, with similar results.

So while Mr. Jim Ragan and his team at NASA may not have been watch specialists, the selection process was rigorous. I'd be curious actually to see which of today's watches would pass those tests.

Indeed Richard...Tranquility Base at 40 >

Hope Buzz did not get any moon dust on his Da Vinci Richard, that stuff is ultra-abrasive!

I sure wish IWC had created a EVA watch. A Ref. 3789 without the day/date and using a calibre 89360 modified with a 24 h dial would be great for upcoming Moon Missions!

Here are a few images to show the Apollo 11 landing site. Crater West is the crater flown over just before landing.
--
Cheers from Isobars

The standards of the tests

Very interesting, I also wonder which of today's IWC watches would qualify. Did IWC participate in the 1960's, and with what kind of watches? Is known how these watches were tested, are these tests comparable to the tortures the IWC watches have to endure now to qualify for us, mortal humans?

Kind regards,
Paul, wearing steel VC Portuguese

The criteria was for a chronograph ...

... and 1964 was well before IWC made it's first wristwatch chronograph.

The suggested list of manufacturers was:

Elgin
Benrus
Hamilton
Mido
Luchin Piccard
Omega
Bulova
Rolex
Gruen

Only three were selected for testing:

Longines
Omega
Rolex

Information is from "A Time Capsule - Omega Speedmaster - The Story of the First Watch in Outer Space" by Kesaharu Imai which also provides an outline of the tests.

Cheers from the cellar

Longine

were also on the suggested list, omission on my part. Sorry.

Cheers from the cellar.

Earth speaking: we prefer column wheels (nt)

Thank you for the bibliographic info (nt)

Is the first photo from the LROC ?

I guess not, it appears to be the site with the complete lander and ascent stage. There are recent close-up photos of the sites taken with the new Lunar Reconaissance Orbital Camera launched in 2008. It's amazing to see some of the later 15 & 16 sites which had longer EVAs and more tire tracks, footprints and instruments still visible today.

Don't forget the Russians......

They produced a mechanical chronograph watch for their spacemen - I think it had Longine connections. I happen to have two- rather nice reliable watches if a little bulky.!
Cheers Louis.

Correct Richard, this is the decent stage of the >

Eagle. Taken just days ago by the LRO.

RE: Moon Phases. A Very Significant Anniversary.

Very instructive contributions .Great reading guys . Thank you !