Skip to main content

Link to Smithsonian homepage

Smithsonian Music

Main menu

  • Calendar
  • Listen
  • Learn
    • Ask Smithsonian
    • Collections Spotlights
    • Music Stories
  • Watch
  • Blog

Chronograph, Armstrong, Apollo 11

Object Details

Summary
NASA issued this Omega Speedmaster chronograph to astronaut Neil Armstrong for use during the Apollo 11 mission of July 1969.
Selected after a series of rigorous tests demonstrated its high level of precision and reliability, the Speedmaster chronograph was chosen by NASA for the U.S. space program in 1964. Program requirements called for a manual-winding wrist chronograph that was water-proof, shock-proof, anti-magnetic, able to withstand temperatures ranging from 0 to 200 degrees Farenheit, and accelerations of up to 12 g's. NASA first certified the Omega Speedmaster as the chronograph for the Gemini program and made successive purchases for both the Apollo and the Skylab/ASTP missions.
NASA transferred Armstrong's chronograph to the Museum in 1973.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Astronaut
Neil A. Armstrong, 1930 - 2012
Manufacturer
Omega Watch Co.
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Materials
Case: Stainless steel
Lens: Hesalite (synthetic crystal)
Interior mechanism: Brass, stainless steel, jewels
Dimensions
3-D: 5.1 × 3.8 × 1.3cm (2 × 1 1/2 × 1/2 in.)
3-D (With Band): 17.8 × 4.1 × 2.3cm (7 × 1 5/8 × 7/8 in.)
Type
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Accessories

Featured In

  • Clocks and Watches:Watches
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Link to Smithsonian homepage

  • About
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy
  • YouTube
  • Twitter
Back to Top