[f]Why is there Snoopy on the dial?

Apart from the Apollo 11, NASA’s 1970 Apollo 13 mission is perhaps the most talked about mission of the Apollo program. It was a failed mission – almost fatal! On April 17, 1970, the crew of the Apollo 13 safely landed on Earth after an incredibly terrifying moment mounted on the module. Speedmaster played a very important role in his return trip, which decided to award NASA the Silver Snoopy Award to Omega on October 5th of the same year. Some people think that the Snoopy manga of Speedmaster is a bit childish, but in many cases, those people don’t know why they’re there. In this article, we’ll explain how Snoopy turned into a Speedmaster dial.

In 1970, NASA astronaut Thomas P. Stafford presented Omega with the Silver Snoopy Award. Not everyone realizes how important this award is. This is an award given to staff or contractors by NASA crews for their special contributions and outstanding efforts. In fact, it is the highest level award from an agency. In addition to the award certificate, there is also a Silver Snoopy Lapel Pins (flying) that are received by contractors or staff from NASA crews.

Speedmaster Snoopy

But why did Omega win this most famous award from astronaut Stafford (on behalf of the Apollo 13 crew)? The complete story can be seen in the 1995 blockbuster Apollo 13, and in Tom Hanks (I recommend watching anyway). If you’ve never seen the movie, here’s a short summary of what happened in April 1970.

Apollo 13 crew after a safe return

Apollo 13

After Apollo 11, public interest in space programs decreased. However, the mission continued, exploring the moon and aiming to retrieve some samples from the moon. The purpose of Apollo 13 was to explore the Furamauro formation of the moon. However, the crew (Lovell, Haise, and Swigert) were not too far. An accident occurred in which a service module was installed 200,000 miles from home and family.

The damaged wire insulation caused an explosion, resulting in the contents of both oxygen tanks entering space. Without the oxygen needed for astronauts to survive and generate electricity, the Apollo 13 spacecraft would not be the desired location. With the help of the ground crew, the Apollo 13 astronauts were able to implement work solutions (including the use of duct tape) that would at least allow them to safely return home.

Image: NASA

Apollo 13’s return

The crew of the Apollo 13 had to increase the angle for the Omega Speedmaster to time the Rockets ignition, shorten the estimated length of return to Earth, slow down the speed, and increase the angle of the flight path to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere. This 14-second operation was important as wrong timing could lead to the wrong angle, which could lead to potential disasters for the crew.

Speedmaster 105.012 worn by astronaut Jacks Weigart, command module pilot for the Apollo 13 mission in April 1970 – Image: National Air and Space Museum

Why Speedmaster?

I can hear it! You could have adjusted the timing of 14 seconds on any watch. But of course, that’s not entirely true. The Omega Speedmaster was the only watch to pass all NASA rigorous tests in 1965. After NASA placed it on the stand, the other watches were still not working. The Longines-Wittnauer 235T and Rolex 6238 chronographs did not pass. There were no watches that Bulova later submitted. The Speedmaster is the only chronograph that the Apollo 13 crew can rely on this seemingly simple task, with just 14 seconds of timing. According to this overview by Robert James, astronauts Swiggart, Heise and Ravel were all wearing Omega Speedmaster expert 105.012.

Snoopy “The Eye of the Star”

However, Snoopy is a comic strip character. Why does NASA use comic characters for the most important honor that crew members can award personnel and contractors? You may already know about the Apollo mission. But did you know that in 1968, NASA chose the famous Beagle as an icon to act as a “watchdog” on its mission? Also, in 1968, NASA decided to use Sterling Silver Snoopy Pins as a sign of gratitude to NASA employees and contractors. The award also included a certificate of recognition and a framed Snoopy certificate signed.

Snoopy Lapel Pin Flying – Image: eBay

sterling silver

Each of the Sterling Silver Snoopy Lapel Pins flew during the NASA mission. Charles M. Schultz, the manga artist who created the “Peanuts” comic strip, is a supporter of the Apollo Mission and has agreed to let NASA use “Snoopy the Astronat” for free. He even painted Snoopy’s figure for the sterling silver lapel pin.

Speedmaster Snoopy Editions for 2015, 2003, and 2020

Speedmaster Snoopy Award 3578.51 (2003)

For some odd reasons, 33 years after Omega won the Silver Snoopy Award from NASA, the brand introduced the Speedmaster Professional Snoopy Award. Omega uses the Standard Speedmaster Professional and has posted the Snoopy Award logo on the 9 o’clock sub-dial. Behind it is the same logo covering the sapphire crystal. Omega produced this 2003 Snoopy Award Ref. Although it is limited to 5,441 units as a limited edition of 3578.51. This number refers to the 142 hours, 54 minutes, and 41 seconds that followed the mission. Yes, it’s a bit stretchy, but Omega had to come up with something (you can read a detailed article on this watch here).

Omega Speed ​​-Master Professional Silver Snoopy Award Ref. 311.32.42.30.04.003

Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 311.32.42.30.04.003 (2015)

The next one was a more reasonable move. In 2015, 45 years after Omega received the silver lapel pin and certificate, the brand came up with another Speedmaster Snoopy Awards watch. References 311.32.42.30.04.003 (click here for more detailed article) are limited to 1,970 pieces, commemorating the year of the Apollo 13 Mission and the award given to Omega. This watch was a “life changer” for Omega and Speedmaster. The watch sold out in an instant, becoming non-obtinium due to a limited amount (again, only 1,970 pieces) and incredibly high priced asking.

High demand

Today, these watches sell many times the original price of 6,000 euros. The back of the watch features a Snoopy lapel pin in sterling silver. The dial will find the dog on the 9 o’clock sub-dial. There are some references to the Apollo 13 mission (“What can I do in 14 seconds?” and “Failure is not an option”).

Omega Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award Ref. 310.32.42.50.02.001

Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award 50th Anniversary 310.32.42.50.02.001 (2020)

Five years later, Omega introduced the 50th anniversary edition of the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Awards. Pressing the start button on the chronograph will send you a module that says that the famous beagle on board is flying through space. This module is attached to a transparent hand connected to the hand of the chronograph seconds. The Earth is also adjusted to fit the hand of the second it runs, so it unfolds. This explains why making this model isn’t as easy as a regular moonwatch, and why it takes time to deliver these watches to the brand’s boutiques.

Since 2020, Omega has stopped producing limited editions. So, like the Speedmaster Caliber 321, this Silver Snoopy Awards 50th Anniversary Edition is part of the regular collection. The demand is so high that it may take a long time for you to get it. It took me a year and a half to receive mine and ordered it on the day it was released. So, in the end, that will come. The retail price for this watch is 11,800 euros (including VAT).

Image: NASA via @niccoloy

Speedmaster Snoopy in Space

Aitan Stibe, a former fighter pilot, businessman and second Israeli astronaut (first Iran Ramon), is currently on Axiom Mission 1. Along with astronauts Connor, Patri and Lopez Elgria, Stibbe will carry out approximately 25 research experiments mounted on the ISS. A friend of the professional watch spter and Fratero Nick Gould discovered that Eitan Stybe is wearing the latest Omega Speedmaster Professional Silver Snoopy Award in space. And it’s very suitable as he wears it on the same date as the Apollo 13 mission was made. I checked with the people at Omega HQ and they showed that astronaut Stibbe didn’t receive a watch from them. Therefore, it appears that Snoopy is his private choice and purchase.

Are you lucky enough to own one of the Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award models? If not, are you on the current edition list? If so, you can hear it in the comments below.

*This article was first published on April 19, 2022. Text and images have been updated.