This New Watch Is Being Purpose-Built for Space Exploration—and It's Not an Omega

When you think of abstraction exploration and watches, 1 sanction instantly comes to mind: Omega. Since its Speedmaster chronograph was selected by NASA half a period agone it has go synonymous pinch abstraction travel. The timing of a 13-second motor pain to prevention Apollo 13 cemented its domiciled successful abstraction history, and Omega has not missed a azygous opportunity to deepen nan partnership, from officially naming it nan Moonwatch to creating endless commemorative constricted editions (even if it is by nary intends nan only watch that's left our planet.)

Now, pinch private spaceflight proliferating and parented missions to nan Moon back connected NASA’s agenda, a Californian start-up wants to found a caller modular for abstraction watches. Barrelhand, whose watches tie connected expertise successful 3D printing and materials science, says that its Monolith will beryllium nan only watch purpose-built for abstraction exploration.

“Space is nan harshest situation we've ever gone to,” says laminitis Karel Bachand. “When we first did it 50 years ago, location were nary devices for it. NASA conscionable tried to find off-the-shelf watches that were nan champion available. When nan Speedmaster was selected it was ne'er designed pinch abstraction successful mind, it conscionable happened to walk nan tests amended than others. There was still plentifulness of room for improvement.”

Bachand says that moreover during testing, NASA’s engineers flagged that nan Speedmaster’s accuracy suffered nether utmost temperatures aliases acceleration, and location were different known issues, too. “Lume was flaking off,” says Bachand, “or nan strap was getting caked up pinch satellite dust, because it's Velcro. There are tons of opportunities for improvements, but successful nan past 50 years, there's been nary innovation, particularly for specified a cardinal instrumentality that's life aliases decease successful abstraction exploration.”

Omega would opportunity that its Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 model, which has been tested and qualified for usage successful abstraction by nan European Space Agency, is nan modern reply to nan Speedmaster. But it has immoderate shortcomings—for instance, it is not certified for EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity).

“The X-33 was a awesome measurement forward”, says Bachand, “But is only rated for Intra-Vehicular Activity usage owed to nan electronics connected board. The liquid crystal show would fundamentally frost up connected a spacewalk. You request mechanical performance; thing that tin support way of clip erstwhile each different systems fail.”

Quartz watches specified arsenic nan X-33 would besides beryllium susceptible to nan higher levels of radiation successful outer space, which tin harm various physics components. A mechanical watch has nary specified trouble, but needs to beryllium capable to usability successful a much utmost scope of temperatures than it would ever look connected earth.