Omega

The present watch is an extremely rare and impressive example of an Alaska III prototype created by Omega for NASA. A new spacecraft, the Space Shuttle, called for retesting of all equipment to be used on board in 1978 and therefore Omega submitted three different watches for qualification. All developments centered on the Space Shuttle qualification were code-named "Alaska III" at Omega. Proposals included the Speedmaster Professional reference ST 145.022, and the present prototype, reference Speedmaster reference 11 003, and the present Speedsonic reference ST 188.0002 with electromechanical movement. The reason why the seemingly more progressive ST188.002 was decided against, was that NASA was unsure how taking a battery powered watch would fare up in space and thus the Speedmaster Professional was chosen instead.

This Alaska III prototype is encased in a specially commissioned American-made watch case. Omega commissioned Star Watch Case Company of Michigan to produce cases for the watches destined for the qualification process. This was done to comply with an official part of the procurement rules called "Buy American Act" that called for 50% of the product's value program to be American-made. The numerals on the counters are also arranged radially, thought to allow for increased legibility.