Space Tested

After months of intense testing to evaluate the effects of vibration, heat, moisture, shock, and vacuum, only one timepiece, the Omega Speedmaster Professional, met all of the requirements to be certified for NASA space missions. Since 1965, Omega Speedmaster chronographs have been the constant companion of NASA astronauts. They’ve been to the moon six times. And no, watches worn on the moon don’t contain lunar dust. Their durable, airtight case construction makes them completely dust-proof.

The go-to gear for creating a visual record of places very few people will ever get to visit, Hasselblad 500 EL cameras were rugged, compact, modular, and easy for NASA engineers to “customize” (read: strip off unnecessary parts to save weight). Most importantly, their ease-of-use and peerless image quality made it possible for Apollo 11 astronauts to create the iconic images that shared the story of their historic journey with the rest of the world.

Without the protection of earth’s atmosphere sunlight is much more harmful in space, making quality sunglasses a must-have item for NASA. American Optical Pilots were issued to Apollo 11 astronauts to help them keep the relentless glare and retina-damaging UV radiation of the sun in check. Made of metal frames with high-quality glass optics, they were more than a match for the challenges of space travel and blinding sunlight. Plus, every astronaut who ever wore them looked impossibly cool. Just saying.

In a zero gravity, closed environment, small particles can cause big problems. Something as simple as graphite dust from a pencil can create a dangerous, even catastrophic, event. Being able to take notes without blowing up your spaceship seemed like a reasonable astronaut request, and the Fisher Space Pen was the answer. Its nitrogen-filled, vent-free cartridge performs under any conditions, from extreme temperatures to zero gravity. They’re rugged, and even the ink is specially formulated to prevent vapor discharge. Years of design and engineering, all so the crew could safely take notes. Puts the rest of the mission into perspective, doesn’t it?

Before Apollo 11 could claim success, there was one final assignment to complete, and it was dependent on the performance of two 19.5 lb. Zero Halliburton aluminum cases. Today, the triumph of Apollo 11 can be found in the DNA of every piece of Zero Halliburton aluminum luggage. Episode 4 reveals how, 50 years later, when there’s a need to protect precious cargo, Zero Halliburton cases are the first choice to get the job done.

Episode 4 tells the story of the daunting list of challenges that would have to be overcome for the two purpose-built, specially engineered Zero Halliburton aluminum cases to successfully protect their contents. Today, that same unmatched capability and spirit of innovation can be found in the custom Zero Halliburton aluminum travel cases people create to meet their unique precious cargo needs.