IWC Schaffhausen makes history in space with four watches
The crew of the recent Polaris Dawn mission each wore an IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn”.
The Polaris Dawn, a private space mission, lifted off in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 reusable, two-stage rocket on September 10, 2024, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. It was the first crewed spaceflight of the Polaris program. Polaris Dawn’s crew members included:
– Jared Isaacman – Mission Commander.
– Scott “Kidd” Poteet – Mission Pilot.
– Sarah Gillis – Mission Specialist.
– Anna Menon – Mission Specialist and Medical Officer.
From Left: Jared Isaacman, Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon. Wrist shots in space, each wearing their IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” (Ref. IW389111).
Polaris Dawn’s Dragon spacecraft reached a high altitude of 1408.1 km above the earth, the highest astronauts have flown in space since the 1960’s – early 1970’s NASA Apollo missions.
Jared Isaacman and Sarah Gillis became the first civilian astronauts to complete a spacewalk or EVA – Extravehicular Activity, and the first ever from the Dragon spacecraft. They evaluated SpaceX’s new EVA spacesuits in the unforgiving vacuum of space.
The crew conducted 36 scientific research studies and experiments on behalf of 31 partner institutions, with an objective “to advance both human health on Earth and during long-duration spaceflight.” They became the first crew to test SpaceX’s Starlink laser-based communication in space.
After almost five days in orbit, the Dragon spacecraft successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Dry Tortugas, Florida, on September 15, 2024.
Throughout this historic mission, the Polaris Dawn crew wore an IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” (Ref. IW389111), “each engraved with their own name.”
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” (Ref. IW389111)
These four unique watches were designed and donated by IWC designed and donated for the Polaris Dawn mission. It is similar to other IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph’s in IWC’s present collection.
Key Features
Its functions include:
– Central hours, minutes, and chronograph seconds.
– Day of the week and date at 3 o’clock.
– Small seconds on subdial at 6 o’clock.
– 12-hour counter on subdial at 9 o’clock.
– 30-minute counter on subdial at 12 o’clock.
Its “dark blue lacquered dial is printed with countless stars.” The small seconds subdial at 6 o’clock features the Polaris Dawn mission patch.
It is powered by a mechanical automatic movement.
Its ceramic case has a diameter of 44.50 mm. Its titanium caseback is engraved with the name of one of the four astronauts.
Christie’s will auction them later this year, to raise funds for “the lifesaving work” of St. Jude’s Children’s® Research Hospital, based in Memphis, Tennessee. Jared Isaacman, who commanded Inspiration4 in 2001, the first all-civilian mission to space, raised over $240 million for this same hospital, to eradicate childhood cancer.
Our Thoughts
For decades, spaceflight has been a government initiative. Private commercial spaceflight, spearheaded by entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk and Jared Isaacman, have changed this. After NASA’s last Space Shuttle’s flight in July 2011, the US did not have its own spacecraft to travel to space and ferry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). They relied on Russia’s Soyuz. This changed when SpaceX launched its first crewed space flight in May 2020. Private commercial space flight is here to stay and is thriving.
IWC’s involvement in the Polaris Dawn mission puts them in elite company – Elon Musk’s SpaceX and the bold mission objectives of the Polaris Dawn mission.
Sarah Gillis playing the violin in space, perhaps the first astronaut ever to do so.
IWC is renowned in the world of aviation and motor racing – especially Formula 1 – circles. The brand and watches are being featured in an F1 movie, a partnership with Apple Original Films, starring Brad Pitt.
With the Polaris Dawn mission, IWC watches stand a chance to become a permanent fixture in space travel.
For more information on the IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph Edition “Polaris Dawn” (Ref. IW389111) and IWC Pilot’s watches, please visit the IWC website.
For more information on SpaceX and Polaris Dawn, please visit their their respective websites.
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