Mouais... faut faire un peu son choix dans les tests, les dates, les versions de l'histoire..."In 1964 NASA sent two employes out to "incognito" purchase five reputable chronographs to be tested for possible use in space. The Mercury program was almost complete and the coming Gemini program with schduled "space-walks" would require a watch that could withstand the extreme conditions in space. After the first round of tests two of the five brands were disqualified and after the second round there was only one left... On September 29 1964 NASA ordered twelve Speedmasters from the US Omega importer. They paid retail price, $ 82,50 for the watches and wanted them delivered by October 21. Meanwhile NASA arranged for a series of test to finally determine what watch to use in space. The watches had to cope with:
* High temperature: 48 hours at 71º C followed by 30 minutes at 93º C.
[c'est 1/2 h, pas "des heures"] This under a pressure of 0,35atm and relative humidity not over 15%.
* Low temperature: Four hours at -18º C.
* Temperature-pressure: 0,000001atm and temperature raised to 71º C. Temperature then lowered to -18º C in 45 minutes and again raised to 71º C in 45 minutes. This cycle was repeated fifteen times.
* Relative humidity: 240 hours in relatuve humidity of at least 95% and at temperatures varying between 20º C and 71º C. The steam had a pH value of between 6,5 and 7,5.
* Oxygen atmosphere: Exposure to 100% oxygen atmosphere at a pressure of 0,35atm and a temperature of 71º C for 48 hours.
* Shock: Six 11 millisecond shocks of 40g each in six different directions.
* Acceleration: Linear acceleration from 1g to 7,25g within 333 seconds.
* Decompression: 90 minutes in a vaccum of 0,000001atm and a temperature of 71º C and 30 minutes in the same vaccum but at a temperature of 93ºC.
* High pressure: Exposure to 1,6atm for one hour.
* Vibration: Three cycles of 30 minutes (lateral, horizontal and vertical), the frequency varying from 5 to 2000cps and back to 5cps in 15 minutes. Average acceleration per impulse 8,8g.
* Acoustic noise: 130db over a frequency range from 40 to 10000Hz for 30 minutes.
The tests were completed on March 1, 1965. Three chronographs from different manufacturers were still running, but only the Speedmaster had passed without any of the serious troubles that had occured with the two others (twisted hands, warped crystals...). NASA stated: "Operational and environmental tests ot the three selected chronographs have been completed, and, as a result of the test, Omega chronographs have been calibrated and issued to three members of the GT-3 crews." The "GT-3" (Gemini-Titan III) took of 04.52 March 23, 1964 with the astronauts John Young and Virgil Grissom on board. On the next Gemini flight (IV) Edward White left the capsule and became the first American to walk in space. On his wrist was the Speedmaster.
[il n'y a pas eu appel d'offres mais achat chez l'importateur de 12 montres au prix normal]Omega became aware of the Speedmaster being used in space as late as April 1966. The advertising of the Speedmaster changed to "space-watch" and Omega added the word Professional to the dial of the Speedmaster.
source : Moon Watch book (Omega S.A.)
ici aussi : http://www.timezone.com/library/archives/archives631659849297633294
ou là :
http://www.clubspeedmaster.com/space/tests.htm
pas mal non plus :
http://www.expeditionexchange.com/omega/indexmain.shtml
évidemment :
http://www.history.nasa.gov/alsj/omega.html
enfin, bref... une Histoire vivante qui se déforme, se simplifie, se copie-colle, et je dirais... se décrédibilise un peu sur internet par la simplicité même de sa "dissémination". Comme je le fais ici
On finit par ne plus savoir si c'est 62, 64, 65... c'est assez marrant quelque part, inquiétant un peu aussi... Å
Accueil 
on le voit.
