Bachand even threw out the industry-standard rubber gaskets used to seal a watch case in opposition to water. “That can begin to degrade under -40°C,” he says. “We seemed on the airlocks for the ISS and located a accomplice that may make an O-ring seal with an identical chemical make-up—an aerospace grade fluorosilicone that received’t get brittle when it freezes.”
Each single part has been thought-about for properties that wouldn’t even be thought-about on Earth—such because the phenomenon of “outgassing”, the emission of absorbed gases into the encompassing environment. “In the event you’ve ever opened up a plastic product off Amazon you may bear in mind being greeted by a harsh chemical odor, generally often called VOCs [volatile organic compounds]. On Earth, we are able to simply crack open a window and air it out, however the ISS doesn’t have that luxurious,” says Bachand, explaining why the Monolith makes use of solely supplies that don’t emit VOCs.
In addition to reimagining the concept of a space-going watch, Barrelhand says that within the course of (roughly by default) it’ll create a instrument watch that may deal with something on Earth. As an example, the Monolith is pressure-tested to depths of 580 meters. Bachand says that right here, too, the usage of 3D printing is vital, and that, slowly, they’re altering perceptions of a know-how typically solely related to design prototyping.
“We used Venture One as a analysis platform to check new steel 3D printing. For watches, it is sort of the holy grail of engineering: It is tremendous small and tremendous exact,” says Bachand. “If you may make a motion bridge, you’ve actually proven the maturity of the know-how. After I present that [to watchmakers], it’s thrilling for them.”
{Photograph}: Barrelhand
However, the tip purpose is to see the Monolith utilized in house—and that will show to be a problem that goes past pure engineering capacity. Bachand says that submitting gear to NASA is a bureaucratic, well timed course of, and that Omega’s half-century of funding will current its personal obstacles. Whereas he follows the official route, Barrelhand is concurrently taking a “grass roots” method, courting particular person astronauts and scientists who can doubtlessly be extra simply satisfied of its deserves.
“Everybody that we have spoken to actually understands the mission and sees the necessity for it, the necessity for innovation and to proceed enhancing on any instrument,” says Bachand. “A number of astronauts are watch collectors, however they’re additionally simply concerned about instruments and innovation. They don’t at all times care about historical past or the established order; they only need no matter’s one of the best. When individuals get it of their palms and perceive the specs, and the thought behind all of it, I feel it’s going to be a no brainer.”
