A change to the Speedmaster

[Houston]

Hi there Pal

........ An atomic clock synchronizer would be useless once in orbit.


I think Uddie did say it was for earthbound use and would certainly suit us earthdwellers fine ;D ;D No more resetting time again - Bliss


As it proved on THE FIRST MOON LANDING MISSION, the mechanical Speedmaster saved the day when Bulova's system clock FAILED. Traveling into the unknown and the vacuum of space, you would need something failsafe -- nut and bolt mechanics. A quartz watch can run out of juice, have a short, crack, etc. What about an EMP (electro magnetic pulse)? Fried. Look at the past. Cars made in the 1950's are still being used today in Cuba and in the states. New cars rely on circuit boards. Something goes wrong, you can fabricate a part maybe. Have a board blow out and you're out of luck.

Mechanical how pal? Manual or auto?

Oh and display back or not?


Be well now


ZIN
Not usually shaken nor stirred ;D ;D ;D

[MacDaddy]

Hey Bud!

Mechanical in the sense of I think automatic. Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 Moonwalker #10 told me that he was worried that his watch would run down, or it did on the mission (I forgot which happened), and he had a bit of anxiety over it, so I think I would probably use an automatic instead of a hand-wound mechanical. In general, I prefer hand-wound mechanical watches. Something pure and bonding about them.

I don't know if there's been a long-term study of automatics in zero gravity. I wonder over a longer period of time if they really could keep wound for let's say a trip to Mars perhaps or if the rotor wouldn't freeze up a bit. Oils would redistribute everywhere and maybe the rotor wouldn't work as well? With a hand-wound you know it's being forced to run. Something to think about.

No display back. It's a tool watch and the more impact resistant, the better. I'm sure it would also need a magnetic shield.

Hmmmm....

[Houston]

Howdy Pal

I agree. The automatic would take off an element of worry in forgetting to wind the watch in the event that the opportunity of synchronizing time would be out of the question if all other systems and comms should fail. Winding is so much fun though.

If I'm correct in thinking, there no longer exists, the apprehension that autos would not work all those miles up there. Sadly, you're right about the need not to have a display back. In that case, may I take a few DVDs along for entertainment please? ;D ;D ;D


Be well now pal


ZIN
Not usually shaken nor stirred ;D ;D ;D

[MacDaddy]

Anything but Mission to Mars, Capricorn One, Alien and 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The onboard system computer might not like the idea of turning off it's brother, the Hal 9000.

;D

[Houston]

No pal but how about -

The Godfather Pts 1 - 3 ( you can get the full set now )
The Insider
The English Patient
Elvis on Tour
The three Bourne movies

Actually I have a quite a list but is there a weight or quantity limit? ;D ;D ;D

A couple of my favourite movies of the past few years has been Black Hawk Down and Crash but under the circumstances I don't think they would be appropriate.

How about The Sound of Music or if the mission was to be around Christmas time, Swiss Family Robinson?


Be well amigo


ZIN
Not usually shaken nor stirred ;D ;D ;D

[talktime]

"Good morning, Dave."

I suggest a few changes, some of which may not be received well...

1) Slight increase in case diamter. Not for fashion's sake, but to fit in an inner case of soft iron to exclude electromagnetic fields.

2) Case material and treatment. Hardened titanium case material, or possibly coated with DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) which, if you scratch that, you have bigger problems to worry about. Another coating which would also look trick is Titanium Nitride. Bead-blast the case for non-glare, and then TiN coat the case for a super hard gold-tone finish. Also can be more black color, which might be a better choice...

3) Dial diamater increase for better legibility, larger markers and sub dials.

4) Rotating tachymeter bezel. It sounds crazy, but if you can rotate it with a 12:00 marker, you can time two things at once. Perhaps a 10:00 position push-button which releases the bezel to rotate from 12:00 position, so it only rotates when you need it to.

5) Tritium shaped indicies. Applied tritium tubes, but shaped other than simple tubes. Perhaps simple tubes would be sufficient, but the watch must be legible under all (and no) lighting conditions: direct, unfiltered sunlight as well as total darkness...

6)Wider strap diameter, for enhanced security, and welded strap lugs, also for security. Velcro strap is standard anyway...

7) Automatic movement. Co-Axial? Maybe... It has to pass the NASA tests to be considered, but a standard COSC auto movement should do the job.

8) Textured case-back, so the watch does not slip from the position it is placed on the EVA suit. Possibly a soft rubber insert instead.

9) dial color will be matt black, all markings will be matt white to exclude any glare. All tritium tubes glass bead blasted to remove any glossy surfaces which might cause glare before instalation.

10) thicker hesalite crystal and pressure relief valve (similar to Rolex Seadweller design) to prevent crystal from popping when vacuum is increased.

11) Nice to have a quartz indication sub-dial which indicates the deviation of the mechanical movement, but is not directly coupled in the event of EMP. A hall-effect sensor is placed on the seconds wheel, and a small display shows the deviation of the mechanical movement (such as [+1.2]) in real time.

12) the movement would be mounted in a soft resiliant material, as would the inner soft iron case for double shock resistance.

13) all pushers increased in size, with a no-slip soft rubber insert to prevent the gloved finger from slipping off the pusher during critical timing activities. Crown kept the same size, or possibly reduced and well protected from impact. Pusher guards would e a good idea, to deflect impacts over the pushers rather than having them break off.

14) lug diameter size and shaped determined by computer engineering models to make them as sleek and snag-free as possible, while providing the highest possible strength.

How does that sound?

[Houston]

Wow Jim

You have really put quite some degree of thought into this.

I'll have to digest this - talk later pal


Be well now


ZIN
Not usually shaken nor stirred ;D ;D ;D

[13oots2]

Just found this info on the Kobold site

PVD stands for Physical Vapour Deposition and it’s is essentially a film-like substance that is applied to the metal. Kobold has three layers of black PVD applied, giving the metal added scratch-resistance. Many people wonder if, when the black PVD gets scratched, the metal shows through, but that is not the case. Any scratches that may occur would appear black like the coating.

[Houston]

Mr 13

Many thanks for this.

Now that is definitely worth knowing


Be well pal


ZIN
Not usually shaken nor stirred ;D ;D ;D