Exploring the Artemis II Crew’s Timepieces
The Artemis II astronauts are enjoying a high-tech experience with Omega watches tailored for space travel. Interestingly, one of the crew members seems to be wearing the same iconic Speedmaster that went to the Moon during the Apollo missions.
Since they suited up for the Artemis II launch on April 1, all four astronauts have been spotted with Omega X-33 Speedmasters. NASA confirmed that this model is issued as standard gear for the crew.
This watch has its origins in the 1990s, designed explicitly for astronauts. It features high-precision quartz hands paired with a digital display, while an analog dial kicks in if the digital one fails in the extreme cold of space, according to the National Air and Space Museum.
The X-33 has been in use by NASA astronauts and remained available for purchase by the public until 2006. For those interested in obtaining one, a used model goes for about $3,000, while a newer version runs around $7,000.
However, at least one astronaut is holding onto tradition, sporting the same mechanical Speedmaster Professional Chronograph that NASA has certified for all Apollo missions. Victor Glover showed off this classic timepiece multiple times during a mission broadcast; while NASA indicated the crew could choose their watches, the X-33 was mandatory.
Glover is joining a long lineage of astronauts who have worn the Speedmaster Professional in space. This iconic watch first flew in 1962 aboard Wally Schirra’s Mercury mission, was certified for space travel by NASA in 1965, and became standard issue for Gemini and Apollo astronauts.
Its selection stemmed from its reliability in maintaining accurate time under zero gravity and fluctuating temperatures, where sunlight can soar to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and shadows plummet to -250 degrees.
Many Speedmasters have made trips to the Moon, and astronauts sometimes wore multiple on their arms. The watch played a critical role during the Apollo 13 mission, allowing crew members to time essential maneuvers without draining power from their limited resources.
Yet, Omega wasn’t the only brand linked to historic lunar missions. Astronaut Dave Scott donned a special Bulova chronograph designed for lunar use during Apollo 15, while Edgar Mitchell wore a Rolex GMT-Master prior to Apollo 14.
The Bulova and Rolex are notable for being among the few watches left on the Moon, with Scott’s model fetching $1.5 million at auction in 2015 and Mitchell’s going for $2.1 million in 2024.
Additionally, the Speedmaster belonging to Apollo 17’s Ron Evans sold for $245,000 in 2015. While many astronauts kept their NASA-issued Omega watches after missions, most eventually handed them over to the National Air and Space Museum as part of a long-standing agreement to return government-owned equipment.
Items retrieved from the Moon have seen remarkable auction prices over the years, but NASA has also intervened in some sales due to ownership disputes.
