Apollo-Soyuz: A date in Space

Mar 06, 2019,08:47 AM
 




Following the end of the Apollo moon missions, in the spirit of détente, the Soviet Union and the USA conducted a joint mission in 1975. 



For the first time the two super powers would meet in space . The Apollo command service module would dock with the Soyuz 19. The Apollo CSM was surplus from the moon programme.

The Apollo and  Soyuz launched on 15 July 1975. They docked in space July 17 and undocked on July 19: spending a total time together of 1 day and 23 hours.























On board were cosmonauts AlexeyLeonov, Valeri Kubasov and astronauts Thomas Stafford, Vance Brand and Donald Slayton.

 

This historic moment has led the way for joint missions on the ISS and was in many respects as an important an event as the moon landings themselves.

 

Speedmaster were chosen by the cosmonauts and the astronauts.

Vance Brand wore a ref.105.012:







Thomas Stafford wore a ref. 145.012:











Donald Slayton wore a ref 105.012-CB case











It is difficult to ascertain which references were worn by the cosmonaut’s but they do look like ref. 145.012.









All picture credits gratefully to NASA and the Smithsonian Air and Space museum

For Omega, this historic event provided the opportunity to make the first? Limited edition Speedmaster in steel and certainly the first to feature a mission patch on the dial, 500 pieces were delivered and is today a highly prized collectors watch.





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Thanks buddy [nt]

 
 By: Miranda : March 7th, 2019-13:26

As a space nerd

 
 By: tick28800 : March 6th, 2019-09:13
I can only thank you for this interesting post. Here is the silver medal coined for the event ...  

And here is the back

 
 By: tick28800 : March 8th, 2019-08:22
It's more a medal than a coin, abount 1 inch in diameter sorry for the bad bad bad pic ...  

Awesome. [nt]

 
 By: InHavenPro : March 7th, 2019-18:47

Great article, muchous gracious.

 
 By: nasseriq : March 6th, 2019-11:45
Best Reubin

Amazing post, Imran

 
 By: crown comfort : March 6th, 2019-13:02
those were some real heroes and the collaboration in space has eventually let to end the Cold War. Those historic Omegas are very important watches. Thanks for putting this all together, I know how much work it is. CC

Thank you! [nt]

 
 By: Miranda : March 7th, 2019-13:24

Epic.

 
 By: InHavenPro : March 7th, 2019-20:09
As deserving of that noun as any event to have ever occurred in human history! I have made a promise to myself to obtain the special edition meteorite dial Apollo-Soyuz Speedmaster which is to me the most desirable watch Omega has ever made . Cheers, Fili...