 |
NEWS
13:07:10 |
|
| Historic space mission commemorated with special timepiece | |
05:07:10 |
|
| Michael Spiers Director Reaches for the Skies | |
Michael Spiers Jewellers has been recognised by Swiss watch maker Br [...] Full Story > |
|
23:06:10 |
|
| Top Performance from South West Jeweller Michael Spiers | |
Michael Spiers Jewellers, which has showrooms [...] Full Story > |
|
04:06:10 |
|
| Glittering Cartier event in the heart of Plymouth | |
Specially invited guests enjoyed an exclusive preview event held at [...] Full Story > |
|
07:04:10 |
|
| The Pen Is Mighty | |
South West jewellers Michael Spiers has helped to raise £1,000 for th [...] Full Story > |
|
16:03:10 |
|
| Keeping time with fashion | |
A team from local independent jewellers, Michael Spiers, are travelli [...] Full Story > |
|
08:03:10 |
|
| Plymouth businessman meets supermodel and Olympic champion at Winter Olympics | |
Adam Spiers, director of independent jewellers, Michael Spiers, has been rubb [...] |
|
13:10:09 |
|
| TAG HEUER ADDS SPORTING GLAMOUR TO MICHAEL SPIERS | |
One of the region’s top jewellers, Michael Spiers, has been selected by [...] |
|
07:10:09 |
|
| Michael Spiers Jewellers Named ‘Jewel in the Crown’ | |
Two members of the Michael Spiers regional team secured first and second posi [...] |
|
24:09:09 |
|
| Michael Spiers Jewellers Takes Part in Diamond Masterclass | |
Regional jewellers, Michael Spiers, was part of an elite group, especially se [...] |
|
22:09:09 |
|
| MICHAEL SPIERS TAKEN OVER BY FILM CREW | |
The Plymouth store of regional jewellers, Michael Spiers, was closed to the p [...] |
|
17:09:09 |
|
| Michael Spiers Plays a Part in Sporting History | |
Michael Spiers jewellers was part of British squash history last week after b [...] |
|
07:09:09 |
|
| MICHAEL SPIERS PARTNERS BRITISH OPEN SQUASH CHAMPIONSHIP | |
Michael Spiers jewellers has been selected as event partner to the British Op [...] |
|
08:08:09 |
|
| GOING FOR GOLD! | |
Plymouthians can have a taste of Olympic glory when World Champion Tom Daley& [...] |
|
03:08:09 |
|
| MICHAEL SPIERS MARKS TEN YEARS AT EXETER SHOWROOM | |
Regional jewellers Michael Spiers is celebrating the 10 year anniversary of i [...] |
|
28:07:09 |
|
| MICHAEL SPIERS CELEBRATES OLYMPIC ACHIEVEMENTS | |
World diving champion Tom Daley and his team mates Tonia Couch and Brooke Gra [...] |
|
15:07:09 |
|
| MICHAEL SPIERS AND OMEGA CELEBRATE MOON LANDING ANNIVERSARY | |
An OMEGA watch commemorating the 40th anniversary of man walking on the moon [...] |
|
10:07:09 |
|
| MICHAEL SPIERS A HIT IN GERMANY | |
Regional jewellers Michael Spiers has become a huge hit in Germany after the [...] |
|
24:06:09 |
|
| MICHAEL SPIERS INVESTS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS TO STRENGTHEN MARKET POSITION | |
Michael Spiers is now working with communications agency Formedia to maintain [...] |
|
11:06:09 |
|
| MICHAEL SPIERS JOINS HARRODS AS CHOSEN RETAILERS FOR NEW BREITLING WATCH | |
Michael Spiers has been chosen by prestigious watch brand Breitling as one of [...] |
|
05:05:09 |
|
| PA RETIRES AFTER 28 YEARS WITH MICHAEL SPIERS | |
Loyal employee Michael Goss has been presented with an Omega watch to celebra [...] |
|
| Page Number : | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| Months : | July 2010 June 2010 April 2010 March 2010 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 |
Tuesday 13th July 2010 |
Historic space mission commemorated with special timepiece |
 |
On July 17th 1975 an American Apollo command module docked with a Russian Soyuz spacecraft in Earth orbit. It signaled the thawing of the Cold War which had resulted in America’s triumph in winning the race to land a man on the moon, but had also brought the world to the brink of destruction with the Cuban Missile Crisis. An American astronaut and a Russian cosmonaut shaking hands in space was reason enough to fly this unique mission.
The Apollo-Soyuz linkup was the start of a collaboration that ultimately resulted in the construction of the International Space Station, mostly built by Russia and the United States, the greatest feat of engineering ever accomplished. Russians have flown to it on the US space shuttle, and Americans and other nationalities often get there by using Russian rockets.
Things were very different in the 1970’s. For the first time both sides would have to reveal to the other its technology, and both had taken different approaches to spacecraft design. For a start, a docking adaptor had to be manufactured that would safely join the Apollo and Soyuz spacecraft together. Even then, each spacecraft used a different atmospheric mixture, at a different pressure!
But these and other huge technical challenges were solved and on July 17th 1975, following two days of intricate manoeuvring, the American and Russian craft docked. On board the Apollo craft were Deke Slayton, Vance Brand and mission commander Tom Stafford, who knocked on the hatch. Veteran cosmonaut Alexei Leonov knocked back. Stafford couldn’t resist asking in Russian “Who’s there?”
“After a perfect docking, we both put our hands together,” recalls Stafford. “It was a handshake not only of two people working together, but also a symbol of our two countries working together.”
Leonov’s fellow cosmonaut for this adventure was engineer Valery Kubasov
Swiss watchmaker Omega has long been associated with manned spaceflight. Its Speedmaster wristwatch was adapted by the company for use in space during the Apollo missions and to this day remains the only type of watch to have been worn on the moon.
To commemorate the momentous occasion of the Apollo-Soyuz linkup, Omega has released a limited number of unique Speedmaster watches. The back of the case has a beautifully embossed representation of the Apollo-Soyuz uniform patch, with the names of all five American and Russian crew, and of course the all important serial number. Only 1,975 of these very special timepieces will be produced, and south west independent jeweller Michael Spiers has two of them.
Director Adam Spiers is very proud to be able to display two of the limited edition moonwatches in the company’s Truro and Plymouth showrooms. He said:
“The Speedmaster is 50 years old, but its size and design mean that it remains stylish and contemporary. The amazing thing about this model is that its main dial has been fashioned by Omega from a single slice of meteorite, oxidised to make the dial black, with the meteorite’s natural colour revealed to provide the silvery colour of the sub dials. Anyone lucky enough to own one will be delighted to know that no two are exactly alike. Michael Spiers is very honoured to be an official stockist for this and other Omega watches.”
Photo: One of the commemorative Apollo-Soyuz Omega Speedmaster watches, a limited edition of 1,975. (Photo: Omega)
See the International Space Station...
The International Space Station is the size of a football field and is easily spotted from the ground, in the evening and weather permitting . It shines more brightly than the stars and planets and doesn’t have flashing lights like an aircraft. As it moves quickly across the sky, it will fade as it approaches the horizon and falls into the Earth’s shadow. Have a look for yourself by visiting this link, and clicking on where you live to reveal the right time to go out and search the sky: http://tiny.cc/fpbpv
|