An Interview With Pierre Chopard, Leader of the Omega Speedmaster Alaska Project

JH: Please tell us about the testing that was done with the Alaska Project?

NASA Space Simulator with the replica omega Seamaster 300m Speedmaster, hanging by a thread inside the shroud, before the decompression and high temperature tests (DQTP-8)
PC: We tested the chronographs, in accordance with the NASA specifications named: Detailed Qualification Test Procedure, which included tests for High Temperature, Low Temperature, Temperature-Pressure, Relative Humidity, Oxygen Atmosphere, Shock, Acceleration, Decompression, High pressure, Vibration (Sinusoidal and Random) and Acoustic Noise.

NASA Space Simulator with the replica omega Speedmaster Broad Arrow GMT Speedmaster, hanging by a thread inside the shroud, before the decompression and high temperature tests (DQTP-8)
PC: We tested the chronographs, in accordance with the NASA specifications named: Detailed Qualification Test Procedure, which included tests for High Temperature, Low Temperature, Temperature-Pressure, Relative Humidity, Oxygen Atmosphere, Shock, Acceleration, Decompression, High pressure, Vibration (Sinusoidal and Random) and Acoustic Noise.

PC: We tested the chronographs, in accordance with the NASA specifications named: Detailed Qualification Test Procedure, which included tests for High Temperature, Low Temperature, Temperature-Pressure, Relative Humidity,http://www.speedroc.com/replica-omega-speedmaster-broad-arrow.html Oxygen Atmosphere, Shock, Acceleration, Decompression, High pressure, Vibration (Sinusoidal and Random) and Acoustic Noise.

JH: When did you present the Alaska Project to NASA? How did the presentation go?

I presented the first version of the Alaska Project during a dinner organised with the astronaut General Thomas Stafford and some members of the Omega Board of Directors. Mr Stafford was appreciative when he saw the thermal protective casing designed for the wrist-watch, but he proposed a change, regarding the way of fixing the bottom in the main part of the casing. He required a bayonet fitting instead of a screw fitting.

Of course, we took Mr Stafford��s proposal into account. We prepared a new version of the casing required by Mr Stafford, and when the new prototypes were manufactured anew, I think that our Dr. Hans Widmer went to Houston to present the project.

I am not sure what really happened between the NASA leaders and our Directors. Since the prototypes were delivered, my task was complete. Nonetheless, I heard that the prototypes had been homologated and that Mr Stafford promised he wanted to make sure that said prototypes would be worn by the astronauts for a further Apollo mission. Unfortunately, it is to say that NASA, on 2nd of September 1970, cancelled three Apollo missions, namely Apollo 18, Apollo 19 and Apollo 20. In my opinion, this fact explains the reason why our prototypes didn��t have the chance to take part in an Apollo mission.

JH: What happened to all of the drawings, prototypes and materials from the project?

PC: In 1970 or 1971 was the end of the development of the Alaska Project. Some of the remaining prototypes were stored at Omega up to the recent date when the auction took place in Geneva. The prototypes were sold at a very high price, after which came the idea to manufacture a commemorative series of 1970 pieces.

JH: Were you happy to see the Alaska Project re-issued as a special edition by Omega?

PC: Time has elapsed since I left Omega in 1984. So the Alaska Project was an almost forgotten souvenir in my mind. In the early ��70s, leading this outstanding project was a very interesting matter for me, especially from the technical-scientific point of view. Nobody had had the chance to conduct experiments and thermal measurements in a Space Simulator, as well as testing the behaviour of the watch in such extreme conditions. However, this specific knowledge of the optical properties of coatings acquired as I was developing the project wasn��t of great use for the future projects I worked on.