Flown Seiko Premier (SRL023) wristwatch carried to the International Space Station aboard the Boeing CST-100 Starliner on Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2), launched on May 19, 2022, and returned on May 25, 2022. During the uncrewed test flight, the Starliner successfully docked with the ISS, spent six days in space, orbited the Earth 94 times, and covered a total distance of 2,467,406 miles. Starliner achieved all flight test objectives during OFT-2, paving the way for future, crewed flights of the American-built spacecraft. To our knowledge, this is the only artifact to be offered at auction that has been flown on a Boeing Starliner mission to the ISS. The consignor notes that it was intended and hoped to be used in an experiment aboard the ISS but time constraints and logistics did not ultimately allow. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Boeing, featuring printed signatures of Astronaut Chris Ferguson and Program Manager Mark Nappi; also includes an image of Ferguson holding the certificate at the time of the presentation of the watch.
The handsome watch features a stainless steel case; scratch-resistant sapphire crystal; 60 second, 24 hour, day and date subdials; black dial with silver-tone hands, roman numerals and hour markers; precise quartz movement; and leather bracelet.
The OFT-2 mission marked the first time that both astronaut capsules of NASA's Commercial Crew Program—Boeing's Starliner and SpaceX's Crew Dragon—were simultaneously docked with the International Space Station. These spacecraft were developed in an effort to escape reliance on the Russia-controlled Soyuz crew transport vehicles. A highly desirable space-flown timepiece from a significant demonstration of the Starliner's capabilities.
Proceeds from the sale of the watch will benefit the Johnsville Centrifuge and Science Museum, Inc (JCSM).
