{"product_id":"ed-white-omega-speedmaster-as02490","title":"\"Ed White\" Omega Speedmaster","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eHistory was made on a desert steppe in southern Kazakhstan. From the Baikonur Cosmodrome, \u003ci\u003eSputnik 1\u003c\/i\u003e, the first artificial satellite, was launched. After \u003ci\u003eVostok 1\u003c\/i\u003e, during which Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, the launchpad from which both missions were launched was named “Gagarin’s Start.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAnd it was from Gagarin’s Start in March 1965 that Alexey Leonov would make history once more in \u003cem\u003eVoskhod 2\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAfter \u003ci\u003eVoskhod 2 \u003c\/i\u003eorbited the Earth, Leonov’s crew member, Pavel Belyayev, helped him strap an EVA backpack to his Golden Eagle spacesuit. Then Belyayev inflated and pressurized the spacecraft’s Volga airlock. Equipped with the EVA backpack, which gave him 40 minutes of oxygen, Leonov entered the airlock.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eBelyayev sealed the spacecraft behind him, and Leonov opened the hatch and pushed out as far as his 17.6 foot tether would allow. He could see the vast expanse of Europe beneath him, stretching wide from the Straits of Gibraltar to the Caspian Sea. For 12 minutes he stayed outside, as the cameras attached to the outside of the airlock recorded his historic spacewalk—the first ever attempted by man.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eTwo months later, his American counterpart, Ed White, would follow in his footsteps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eOn Ed White’s wrist was an Omega Speedmaster, Reference 105.003.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eThe Speedmaster carries with it an indelible connection to the U.S. space program, through Ed White and Buzz Aldrin, who wore his Reference 145.012-67 when he walked on the Moon. But it was after Ed White’s spacewalk that the Speedmaster became flight-qualified for all manned space missions. Consequently, examples of the Reference 105.003-65—known by collectors as the “Ed White” after the astronaut who wore it—have become hot commodities in the watch collecting community. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eAs desirable as they are, Reference 105.003-65’s can command a premium—particularly when in exquisite condition. However, this particular Reference 105.003-65 shows signs that it was well-loved, but—most importantly—taken care of. The case shows signs of a previous polishing, and the hands are service replacements.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eSince pristine examples of this reference can be out of reach for many collectors, and those that are might spend the rest of their lives in a safe, this is a rare example of a straight-lugged Speedy that is collectible but can also be \u003ci\u003eworn\u003c\/i\u003e—whether in space like Ed White or Alexey Leonov, or in more terrestrial pursuits.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Omega","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":8141562970199,"sku":null,"price":15900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0809\/1255\/products\/Omega_Speedmaster_Ed_White_105-003-65_AS02490_1.jpg?v=1527617661","url":"https:\/\/www.analogshift.com\/products\/ed-white-omega-speedmaster-as02490","provider":"Analog:Shift","version":"1.0","type":"link"}