X-33 Skywalker Owners - Is Yours 'Certified' or 'Qualified'?

mbp
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That's good to know, thanks for sharing that information.
 
Scott Schneeweis
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befobe befobe
In the aeronautic world, "certification" means that your work is validated by an independent authority according specifications you don't write yourself.
"Qualification" is an internal validation, according specifications you define yourself (or internally, like your Quality Control Department for example).
(Sorry if I didn't understand correctly your question... )

Thanks....really looking for the actual metrics/standards that the qualification/certification of the watch was assessed against (i.e. what constituted pass/fail).
 
Scott Schneeweis
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Presumably Skywalker would be different given application (IVA only as my understanding is X-33 isnt viable for EVA) and of course the design is not comparable.
 
befobe
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Exact. Good question.... Of course vacuum performance is very low for watches with liquid cristal and battery because they usually leak.... So the spec for the x33 must be very different from the moonwatch. Let's find out that test specifications, it will be interesting to compare....😁
 
mbp
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I was under the impression that the LCD could crack at those temperature extremes.
 
befobe
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Yes, it happens too. And in the end, it leaks... And in microgravity, liquid leaks are the enemy.... Because you never know where it spreads... 😲
 
TLIGuy
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befobe befobe
Exact. Good question.... Of course vacuum performance is very low for watches with liquid cristal and battery because they usually leak.... So the spec for the x33 must be very different from the moonwatch. Let's find out that test specifications, it will be interesting to compare....😁

In 2014 Omega says the ESA qualified...

"President of Omega, Stephen Urquhart, said: “We are delighted that our friends at the European Space Agency have tested and qualified the Speedmaster Skywalker X-33 for all its piloted missions, which is a natural extension of our long relationship with NASA and its space programme."

ESA and Omega: a watch for astronauts - ESA.it 12 December 2014

"The Skywalker has passed rigorous testing at ESA’s technical heart, ESTEC, in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, where many ESA satellites are put through their paces before launch.

The timepiece proved itself capable of surviving anything an astronaut might experience - and more. First, it displayed ruggedness by surviving ESTEC’s shaker simulating the intense vibrations of a launch. Then it was spun in a centrifuge to reach seven times the gravity we feel on Earth, just like an astronaut might endure when returning to our planet.

The next step was to analyse its performance after sitting in a vacuum chamber with temperatures ranging from –45°C to +75°C, a far greater range than an astronaut would ever have to endure.

Finally, the watch was blasted with radiation in Sweden under supervision by France’s ONERA/DESP aerospace centre to simulate space radiation. Each watch was inspected visually and its functions were reviewed before and after each test."

Edited:
 
befobe
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oh great! so it bears vaccuum!... amazing watch.... 😲😜👍
 
Scott Schneeweis
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Yes bears vacuum (which can be encountered during IVA operations), note the range for thermal analysis does not encompass EVA environment (LEO exposes an object to temps from –65 ºC to +125 ºC )
Edited:
 
H
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Hmm, my new x33 is a plain case back with neither qualified nor certified, did they stop making the engraved ones?
 
befobe
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H Henkr
Hmm, my new x33 is a plain case back with neither qualified nor certified, did they stop making the engraved ones?
oh, pic?
 
H
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befobe befobe
oh, pic?

Maybe I should throw it into a vacuum chamber to check out if it's still qualified even if the case back doesn't say it...
 
16543576622882715411882343185257.jpg
befobe
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So strange... Never saw that before... Maybe a very limited edition!😲
 
H
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befobe befobe
So strange... Never saw that before... Maybe a very limited edition!😲

I looked around on chrono24, and it seems the "new" listings all have this plain case back whereas the used/unworn ones do not, which makes me think this is a recent thing.
 
TLIGuy
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H Henkr
Hmm, my new x33 is a plain case back with neither qualified nor certified, did they stop making the engraved ones?

I have some pictures of this style case back but can't share them. Both American and ESA astronauts have this case back on their Skywalkers but in the middle it's engraved with the NASA or EAS logo with their name and missions added. Same engraving around the edge just like yours. This engraved case back is usually added to the watch post mission to personalize the watch.
 
H
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TLIGuy TLIGuy
I have some pictures of this style case back but can't share them. Both American and ESA astronauts have this case back on their Skywalkers but in the middle it's engraved with the NASA or EAS logo with their name and missions added. Same engraving around the edge just like yours. This engraved case back is usually added to the watch post mission to personalize the watch.

Oh that's cool to know! I wonder how the AD in Japan got a hold of one though. One of the projects in my lab is in collaboration with nasa... Maybe they'll engrave it for me when I'm done with it XD
 
Z
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Did you buy from an Omega AD or boutique ?
How about functions, everything normal and working, card stamped etc ?
Trying also to figure out what this is. I sent an email to omega with a reference number and no answer so far...
Cheers
 
H
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Z Zanzibar
Did you buy from an Omega AD or boutique ?
How about functions, everything normal and working, card stamped etc ?
Trying also to figure out what this is. I sent an email to omega with a reference number and no answer so far...
Cheers

Bought from an AD in Japan on chrono24. Card seems fine, stamped with the correct date and seller, all the functions seem fine too. I've been using the timers, all 3 alarms, all 3 PETs with MET, and the power saver alignment mode without any problems.

The only things amiss are a very slight wobble on the perfectly aligned bezel, the minute hand being slightly loose - sometimes it gets jumped forward a bit too at the 30 sec jump and gets out of alignment (fixed by tapping the case so it goes back, will try to get it fixed properly at the first battery change) and a bit of paint from the omega logo on the box has rubbed off to the inside of the cardboard cover.

Found another listing on chrono24 that's 9 serial numbers off mine with the same case back so makes me think it's a batch thing.
Edited:
 
P
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Just digging around for details on the Skywalker having just bought one on the spur of the moment.
Didn't know about different case backs. Mine's a 2017 and certified. Wouldn't have thought it was one of the first 100 by 2017 but I suppose it's a bit of a niche watch and not appealing to a huge market.
So this got me wondering how many Skywalkers Omega sell?
 
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