NASA is once again embarking on its lunar conquest. The Orion shuttle has set off on its orbital mission, carrying four astronauts equipped with electronic Omega Speedmaster watches.

For the first time since 1972, humans are once again looking with interest at our natural satellite. On April 1st, at precisely 12:35 AM our time (10:35 PM UTC), the Artemis II mission began with the liftoff of the Orion spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The manned lunar flight is expected to last a total of 10 days, but does not include a landing on the lunar surface. NASA is tentatively planning this for 2028, under the designation Artemis IV.

The Artemis II mission consists of four astronauts: Reid Wiseman (Commander), Christina Koch (Mission Specialist), Victor Glover (Pilot), and Jeremy Hansen (Canadian Space Agency). Each of them carried on board the official watch of lunar space exploration – an Omega Speedmaster. Specifically, the titanium, electronic second-generation X-33 model.

Reference 318.90.45.79.01.001, introduced in 2001, features a lightweight titanium case (and bracelet) measuring 42.25 mm in diameter. The watch’s quartz movement (Omega caliber 1666) offers functions such as a chronograph, alarm, GMT, World Time, and Mission timer. Omega officially discontinued this model in 2006. The latest iteration of the watch – its fourth generation – is dedicated to the conquest of Mars.

PS. As it turned out, after the Artemis II mission launched, not only Speedmaster X-33s were sent into space. As verified by our colleagues at Fratello Watches, the astronauts also took other, personal timepieces with them. Thus, aboard Orion were also a Breitling Navitimer, a Speedmaster Moonwatch Professional, and even a Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon.