Its billionaires-in-space week, and space cowboy Jeff Bezos became the second billionaire in a fortnight to launch himself into space. As the Blue Origin Mission NS-16 rocketed skyward with four passengers aboard, including Bezos himself, his brother Mark, former NASA trainee Wally Funk, and an 18-year old from Holland, all the passengers including Bezos wore a custom Omega Speedmaster.
Why an Omega Speedmaster? It was the watch that NASA officially certified as suitable for space flight in the early days of space flight.
The specific watch that the four space tourists wore was a tweaked version of the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Master Chronometer Ref. 310.30.42.50.01.001, which Omega launched at the beginning of 2021.
Image courtesy: Getty Images
The Speedmasters were secured with grey versions of the 20mm Velcro straps that Omega launched at the beginning of this year, which had the Blue Origin logo printed on them. In true astronaut style, the crew wore their watches over their blue flight suits. The only other customisations featured were specially engraved casebacks that displayed the name of their wearer, the flight number, and the Blue Origin feather logo.
Interestingly, Omega donated the timepieces for the mission.
