Watchmaker enters partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre
There is no other association in the world of watches more legendary and famous than the one between Swiss watchmaker Omega and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the USA. In July 1969, this partnership elevated Omega’s Speedmaster chronograph to one of the most iconic timepieces of all time, when Buzz Aldrin stepped out of the Apollo 11 lunar module onto the lunar surface wearing it. Even today, not many watches can match the Speedmaster’s cachet of being the first watch ever to be worn on the Moon.
Fast forward to 2023, and to Dubai, where the legendary chronograph is embarking on its next big extra-terrestrial mission, as the official timepiece of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC). The announcement of Omega’s long-term partnership with the MBRSC started with the launch of the longest Arab space mission in history on March 2, 2023, in which astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi travelled into space equipped with a Speedmaster Moonwatch and a Speedmaster X-33.
After officially announcing the partnership, Omega’s President and CEO, Raynald Aeschlimann said the new collaboration is a source of pride for the Swiss brand and that it adds to the Speedmaster’s distinguished legacy. “Since that first giant leap in 1969, space travel has evolved into a truly global endeavour and the fact that our Speedmaster is still the timepiece strapped to the wrists of astronauts is a testament to its precision and excellence,” he said.
Speaking after the official signing ceremony in Dubai, Salem Humaid AlMarri, Director General, MBRSC, said: “We are delighted to have Omega as the official timekeeper for MBRSC, as we continue our journey of discoveries and new milestones in the space sector. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to excellence and innovation in space exploration, and we look forward to carrying forward the storied legacy of the timepiece through a new era of possibilities that will take us to space, the Moon and beyond.”
MBRSC is home to successful space programmes such as Emirate Mars Mission that sent the Hope Probe to Mars, the longest Arab space mission in history, currently being undertaken by astronaut Sultan AlNeyadi as well as the Emirates Lunar Mission with the Rashid rover. As the space watch of choice for the astronauts of the UAE National Space Program, the Omega Speedmaster will now be an integral part of all missions undertaken by the MBRSC.
