2025, marks six decades since NASA officially declared the OMEGA Speedmaster “Flight Qualified for all Manned Space Missions”. Although the brand has bragging rights to being the only watch worn on the moon, the timepiece’s endorsement came on 1 March 1965 when it officially made its mark in the annals of space history.
Getting the go ahead from NASA was no easy feat. The Speedmaster’s selection came after a rigorous series of 11 extreme tests conducted by NASA engineer James Ragan, designed to replicate the harsh conditions of space.
Built To Withstand The Extremes
NASA engineer James Ragan.
From thermal vacuums to violent shocks, high decibel noise and extreme pressure variations, the Speedmaster ST 105.003 was the only chronograph to pass every challenge. Competing watches failed early, with one’s crystal detaching from the case and another’s hands warping under heat.
Ragan later remarked on the difficulty of the qualification process: “It was the most extreme testing you could do to a piece of hardware.” But beyond engineering endurance, astronaut preference sealed the deal. Without knowing the results of the tests, the crews unanimously chose the Speedmaster for its accuracy, readability, reliability, and operational ease.
Just three weeks later, on 23 March 1965, astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young wore the Speedmaster on the Gemini 3 mission, marking its debut in space. Modified only with a longer Velcro strap to fit over their suits, the Speedmaster would go on to accompany Ed White on the first American spacewalk and circle the Moon aboard Apollo 8.
Shooting For The Moon
Gemini 4 mission June 1965.
Its most iconic moment, however, came in July 1969, when Buzz Aldrin wore it during Apollo 11’s lunar landing, making the Speedmaster the first watch on the Moon.
Originally released in 1957, the Speedmaster was already revolutionary, featuring a tachymeter scale on its bezel—an innovation aimed at racing drivers. Its robust design, shatter-resistant hesalite glass, and tritium-lit hands also made it ideal for space exploration.
The Speedmaster ST 105.003.
Today, OMEGA celebrates the Speedmaster’s ongoing legacy in space and timekeeping. Despite its outwardly consistent design over the decades, the watch has evolved internally, reflecting continuous advancements while preserving the qualities that made it a favourite among astronauts.
As OMEGA reflects on 60 years of spaceflight heritage, the Speedmaster remains not just a tool of exploration, but a symbol of precision, endurance, and human ambition.
