Barrelhand, a startup, seeks to compete with Omega's iconic Moonwatch by creating a 3D-printed timepiece, the Monolith, specifically engineered for space exploration. With the resurgence of interest in lunar missions, founder Karel Bachand highlights previous limitations of existing space watches like the Speedmaster, which was not originally designed for space conditions. Issues such as accuracy in extreme temperatures and design flaws have been noted, prompting a call for innovation in an essential tool for astronauts. The Monolith is positioned as the first watch truly purpose-built for challenging extraterrestrial conditions.
When we first did it 50 years ago, there were no tools for it. NASA just tried to find off-the-shelf watches that were the best available.
Even during testing, NASA's engineers flagged that the Speedmaster's accuracy suffered under extreme temperatures or acceleration, and there were other known issues.
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