FORTIS: Special Edition for AMADEE-18 Mars Mission
In 2018, FORTIS has become the official timekeeper for the AMADEE-18 Mars Analog Mission and equipped the Austrian-led team with the Special Edition AMADEE-18 chronographs during simulations of a Mars landing conducted in the Desert of Oman.
Directed by a Mission Support Center in Austria, the small field crew has conducted experiments preparing for future human mars missions in the fields of engineering, planetary surface operations, astrobiology, geophysics, geology, life sciences and many other. For this mission FORTIS created the official mission watch AMADEE-18.
LONG SPACE HISTORY
FORTIS, founded in 1912, has long been associated with rugged pilot’s watches and became part of the official equipment of Russian cosmonauts in 1994. Launched into space on a MIR space station mission, the Official Cosmonauts Chronograph bears the logo of the Russian space authorities (Roscomos) on the caseback and continues to accumulate mission patches from ongoing International Space Station adventures.
OFFICIAL COSMONAUTS AMADEE-18 CHRONOGRAPH
The FORTIS Amadee-18 is a black PVD version of the legendary B-42 Official Cosmonauts Chronograph. With its strong pilot’s watch design, the robust 42mm stainless steel case of the Amadee-18 is coated with black PVD featuring contrasting white Arabic numerals that stand out. The sharp coined edge of the rotating bezel clicks precisely and smoothly to measure elapsed times of up to 60 minutes and the large crown is fluted to enhance grip. Water-resistant to 200 metres, the caseback is sealed and features the Roscosmos logo. Overall, a solid tool watch that is made to withstand any challenge presented on or off the Earth!
Like other Official Cosmonaut Chronographs, the dial is brimming with information. The traditional 6-9-12 layout of the sub-dials responds to the Valjoux 7750 movement below deck but in the case of this watch, the small seconds counter at 9 o’clock has been decorated with the Amadee-18 Mission Logo picked out in desert- and mars-like colours of yellow, brown and red.
In addition to the tachymetre scale on the inner flange and the large luminescent Arabic numerals and hour markers, there is also a day/date window at 3 o’clock flanked by two arrows pointing in opposite directions. The arrows are to indicate in which direction to rotate the crown to adjust the date and day. The FORTIS brand name and logo are also positioned above the day/date window while the words Chronograph Automatic appear below it. Coupled with the neon berlac fluor orange chronograph hands and the colourful mission patch, the stylish dial is very legible in practically any light conditions thanks to the contrast of the white markings against the black background and the green Superluminova®.
VALJOUX 7750
The FORTIS Official Cosmonauts Amadee-18 Chronograph is powered by a Valjoux 7750, one of the most reliable automatic chronograph movements on the market running at 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivering 54 hours of power reserve.
A rugged, solid utilitarian chronograph, the FORTIS Amadee-18 will appeal to trekkies and fans of space missions alike with its mission patch of the Martian simulation that took place in Oman. It even comes with sand from the Omani desert. The watch comes with a black leather performance strap.
ON BOARD FOR AMADEE-20
Between October, 15th and November 15th 2020, the Austrian Space Forum – in cooperation with the Israel Space Agency as the host agency and D-MARS – will conduct an integrated Mars analog field mission in the Negev Desert in Israel. The expedition will be carried out in a Martian terrestrial analog and directed by a dedicated Mission Support Center in Austria. A small field crew of highly trained analog astronauts with spacesuit simulators will conduct experiments preparing for future human and robotic Mars exploration missions.
The team continues to rely on FORTIS for the timekeeping of the complex research and data analysis. The rumour is that there will be even a new FORTIS Official Cosmonauts Amadee-20 Chronograph! Watch this space!
