Timex Ironman Watch

In the 1960’s, NASA decided that a well-functioning timepiece was vital for each member of every space flight. Astronauts needed reliable watches not only to tell time, but for a host of mission-critical tasks. NASA wanted an off-the-shelf watch that was reliable, inexpensive and could survive the rigors of space travel. NASA employees secretly bought several watches and subjected them to a battery of destructive tests, whatever watches passed would be issued to astronauts during future space flights.

They tested for humidity, temperature extremes, compression and decompression, vibration, shocks and acceleration to 7.25 times Earth’s gravitational force. While only the Omega Speedmaster passed NASA’s 1965 tests, the list of NASA certified watches has since been expanded to seven, with entries from Omega, Casio and Timex.

One of the more recent additions to the list is the Timex Ironman Triathlon Datalink. The Timex Ironman watch boasts a sleek, stylish look, affordable price and a host of features. It also comes in a variety of styles, guaranteed to suit individual needs. Unfortunately for watch and NASA enthusiasts, all NASA-issued watches must be returned to NASA upon completion of space flights.