#145.014

50 years ago: September 1973, Skylab-4 Speedmaster Mk II Skylab-4 Scientist Astronaut Edward Gibson makes notations at the work station simulator of the Apollo Telescope Mount at JSC - Johnson Space Center, Houston. SL-4 was launched in November 1973, with besides their NASA-issued Omega Speedmaster , Gerald Carr wearing a Movado Datachron HS360 automatic chronograph, William Pogue wearing a Seiko 6139-6005 automatic chronograph and Edward Gibson wearing a second Speedmaster. Whether the latter was a Speedmaster Mark II remains hard to tell as no onboard photos were found but Gibson wore his Omega Speedmaster Mark II during complete Skylab training and immediately post-landing in February 1974 ! (Photos: NASA)

Skylab-4 was an 84 days long duration mission, during which astronauts Gerald Carr, William Pogue and Edward Gibson demonstrated that humans can effectively function in the micro-gravity environment of a space station. Sunday, 10 February 1974, the Skylab-4 crew, together with Donald “Deke” Slayton were flown by McDonnell Douglas C-9A Nightingale USAF airliner of 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing to Houston - Texas, where they were reunited with their wives. Note, that 36 hours after recovery, SL-4 astronaut physicist Edward Gibson already wore his personal Omega Speedmaster Mark II chronograph 145.014, a wristwatch he also wore during training since 1971. It’s not clear if it was worn during the mission. (Photo: NASA)

April 19, 1974... Skylab-4 postflight conference at NASA-KSC Six weeks after splash-down & recovery, the Skylab-4 crew thanked NASA personnel for the support in training and during their 84 days Skylab space station long-duration mission. Note SL-4 astronaut physicist Edward Gibson wore his personal Omega Speedmaster Mark II chronograph 145.014, a wristwatch he also wore during training since 1971. (Photo: NASA)

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