# Astronaut wearing an unusual wristwatch
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 16, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226 "2009-07-16T15:49:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226/1 "2009-07-16T15:49:32Z")
In this picture (FTP from the Canadian Space Agency), Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette is seen in her blue flight suit at Kennedy Space Center. She’s wearing a pretty ordinary-looking wristwatch, with one strange feature: there’s a translucent orange band running over the face.
My only guess is that this is just a plastic protection measure to reduce scratching of the watch face, but is there something more going on?
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### Author:  [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226/2 "2009-07-16T16:06:01Z")
No idea what it is but it looks like it goes over the strap too.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226/3 "2009-07-16T16:06:54Z")
> [@wolfstu](#):
>
> In this picture (FTP from the Canadian Space Agency), Canadian Astronaut Julie Payette is seen in her blue flight suit at Kennedy Space Center. She’s wearing a pretty ordinary-looking wristwatch, with one strange feature: there’s a translucent orange band running over the face.
>
> My only guess is that this is just a plastic protection measure to reduce scratching of the watch face, but is there something more going on?
It’s just an inexpensive digital -analog watch, the tape is not part of the watch. As a guess The strip of tape is probably just some sort of indication it has been calibrated with some mission clock and is intended to be removed at some point.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226/4 "2009-07-16T16:11:29Z")
The official NASA watch is the [Omega Speedmaster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_Speedmaster). (The Canadian astronaut is not wearing one.) According to Wiki, it is the only watch flight-certified for EVA.
A Speedy will be my next watch; but I’m trying to be fiscally responsible right now.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226/5 "2009-07-16T16:20:22Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> The official NASA watch is the [Omega Speedmaster](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega_Speedmaster). (The Canadian astronaut is not wearing one.) According to Wiki, it is the only watch flight-certified for EVA.
>
> A Speedy will be my next watch; but I’m trying to be fiscally responsible right now.
I’m pretty sure there are number of digital watches these days that will significantly outperform the mechanical Omega in the timekeeping and overall “toughness” area. I kind of doubt NASA “certifies” watches anymore. It would be kind of pointless with modern digitals.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226/6 "2009-07-16T16:26:11Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> I’m pretty sure there are number of digital watches these days that will significantly outperform the mechanical Omega in the timekeeping and overall “toughness” area. I kind of doubt NASA “certifies” watches anymore. It would be kind of pointless with modern digitals.
That seems likely.
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### Author:  [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226/7 "2009-07-16T16:29:41Z")
The Omega Speedmaster’s claim to fame is that it was proven to work reliably in vacuum without modification. Apollo astronauts actually strapped these on the outside of their spacesuits. I don’t think Shuttle astronauts do that.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/astronaut-wearing-an-unusual-wristwatch/503226/8 "2009-07-16T16:31:00Z")
[I think this is what she is wearing](http://www.amazon.com/Timex-Ironman-100-Lap-Digital-T5E351/dp/B00093CZTC/ref=pd_sbs_watch_1) or a variant of it.
[From here](http://www.omega-fanatic.com/pages/omega-info/moonwatch.php)
> [@](#):
>
> According to a recent edition of the “NASA Explorers,” there are currently 4 wristwatches certified to fly in space. Each of the watches are off-the-shelf models that can be purchased at retail stores. “The certification process assures that the watches can perform and not self-destruct in the vacuum of space. With pressure variances and temperature extremes, watch components may expand, rupture, or crack causing a potential hazard to the crew.” The First wristwatch certified for space flight is the Old Standby watch, the mechanical Omega Speedmaster Professional, and this watch was actually first used in space by Walter Schirra when he orbited the Earth six times in the Sigma 7 spacecraft in 1962. (This was before NASA had officially certified Omega.)
>
> The second certified wristwatch is the New Omega X33 Speedmaster Titanium Chronograph. This is a very sophisticated Multifunction Quartz version of the original Omega Speedmaster, and includes both analog and digital displays. The watch has an “electroluminescent” dial for easy reading at night and is very durable and light weight due to the Titanium construction. The new Speedmaster also has several timers that can be displayed during the course of experiments or other closely monitored activities.
>
> The Casio G-Shock is another basic wristwatch used by NASA astronauts, and is helpful when working on precise projects. The newest wristwatch to become certified is the Timex Ironman. This cutting-edge timepiece boasts an LED port to synchronize up to 10 alarms to a calendar of a personal computer. The Timex also stores 38 telephone numbers, identifies messages, displays the time in two different time zones, and comes close to serving as a wrist computer.