It was after the Apollo 1 accident in 1968 that NASA chose the famous
"beagle"
to mark the success of the missions.
A watchdog for the conquest of space, in a way… Since then, Snoopy has appeared on posters displayed in space centers in order to advocate the safety rules to be respected for the success of space missions.
Al Chop, then director of public affairs at the center of human spaceflight in Houston, imagines creating an award, a sort of internal order of merit at NASA.
It will be offered by the astronauts to employees of the space industry in recognition of their contribution to the human space flight programs.
Schulz, a big fan of the American space program, will authorize NASA to use the image of Snoopy for free, and will draw him for the occasion in astronaut clothes, for these medals taken into space by each Apollo mission.
The
"Silver Snoopy award"
was born, and will be awarded to less than 1% of NASA teams, accompanied by a certificate and letter from the astronauts of the mission concerned.
Omega
In 1970, it is not a man or a woman from NASA who will be awarded this Award, but Omega.
The official supplier of astronaut watches, which became the Moonwatches after the success of the Apollo 11 mission, will be recognized for their contribution to the safe return to Earth of the Apollo 13 crew.
Read also:
The day an Omega Speedmaster saved the crew of Apollo 13
A speedmaster on the wrist
On April 13, 1970, two days after takeoff, more than 300,000 kilometers from Earth, an oxygen tank exploded on board.
The lunar mission is no longer the issue, and the trio must take refuge in the lunar module to survive.
On board, we will have to reduce energy consumption to a minimum to have a chance of coming back alive.
In order for the Apollo 13 crew lost more than 300,000 kilometers from Earth to return safe and sound, it was necessary in particular to readjust the trajectory of the spacecraft for 14 seconds flat.
Without any working digital equipment to measure them, it was with his Speedmaster that Jack Swigert would have triggered the engines while James Lovell guided the device from the horizon of the earth visible through the porthole.
On April 17, Apollo 13 landed on the water.
In recognition of its global contribution to the conquest of space, Omega will receive the
“Silver Snoopy Award”
on Monday, October 5, 1970.
Omega
On the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of this event, Omega is unveiling a
50th Anniversary
Speedmaster
“Silver Snoopy Award”
.
Snoopy is prominent in this watch, in the form of an embossed silver medallion on the blue sub-dial, at 9 o'clock.
He is of course dressed in his famous spacesuit, in the exact style of the silver brooch that the NASA astronauts presented to the winners.
The dial, is also in silver, is laser engraved.
It includes two other blue sub-dials, as well as blue PVD angle-shaped indexes and hands.
Omega
On the back of the case, Snoopy has gone into orbit, thanks to its black and white command and service module.
When the chronograph seconds hand is used, Snoopy takes a journey to the dark side of the moon - just like the crew of Apollo 13 - with the lunar surface reproduced on the sapphire crystal using micro metallization -unique structured.
The earth's disc rotates once per minute, in synchronization with the small seconds of the watch, symbolizing the precise rotation of the Earth, with the iconic quote,
"Eyes on the stars"
.
Omega
The Naiad Lock retains the case back engravings in an upright position, including the date 1970, the year Omega received the
“Silver Snoopy Award”
.
Attention to detail requires, the blue nylon strap of the watch takes the trajectory of the Apollo 13 mission, embossed on its lining.
This bracelet accompanies a 42 mm stainless steel case, inspired by the fourth generation Speedmaster style (the first watch worn on the moon in 1969).
The tachymeter scale, with the iconic
“Dot over Ninety”
, is shown in white enamel on a blue ceramic bezel.
This
50th Anniversary
Speedmaster
“Silver Snoopy Award”
is powered by an OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer caliber 3861 certified Master Chronometer by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS).
In non-limited edition, it will be guaranteed for five years.
Omega Speedmaster “Silver Snoopy Award” 50th Anniversary, € 9,500