To Boldly Go: IWC Becomes the Official Timekeeper of Space Habitation Technology Company Vast

We all, at some point in our lives, fantasized about being an astronaut. Yes, billionaire space tourism is kind of cringe. Still, if Bezos or his buddies sent us an invite, we would probably go because we grew up watching movies about the heroics of the Apollo astronauts and the scientists who “slipped Earth’s surly bonds” (see “High Flight” by John Gillespie) to study everything from plants to metals in zero gravity.

And although it will be a while before civilians take an Uber rocket into the stratosphere, we’re still excited to hear about IWC’s newly announced partnership with Vast, the space habitation technology company.

Yes, the International Watch Company will soon be the “Interplanetary Watch Company.”

Vast is currently engineering and constructing the world’s first commercial space station, Haven-1. To make this revolutionary endeavor possible, the company is planning a test run with the Haven Demo, an in-orbit experiment designed to help figure out the critical technologies needed to make long-term living in space possible.
 

Haven-1 is a state-of-the-art, human-centric space station, designed as an innovation lab for both private astronauts and government missions. Here, crews will utilize the Haven-1 Lab to conduct scientific research, develop technology, and even manufacture products.

Let us not forget that IWC’s founder, American watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones (best name ever), brought the New World innovations that helped jumpstart industrialization in watchmaking in the 1800s to Schaffhausen. Exploration – both technological and geographical – is a hallmark of the brand.
 

“Vast and IWC Schaffhausen both share a passion for innovation driven by scientific progress,” commented Max Haot, CEO of Vast, in a press release. “With our mutual passion for bold invention in our respective industries, this collaboration will be a historic milestone in the evolution of spaceflight-ready timepieces. As Vast advances humanity’s presence in low-Earth orbit and unlocks a new era of scientific progress in space, we’re excited to collaborate with IWC on timepieces that capture this ethos of exploration and discovery.”

This isn’t IWC’s first space rodeo. The Maison kitted out the crew members on board the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn commercial human spaceflight missions.

But this collab is much more strategic. Not only is IWC the official timekeeper of the Haven-1, but the partnership will also enable IWC to develop watches suitable for spaceflight.
 

“Our collaboration with Vast is a natural evolution of our heritage in aviation, which began almost a century ago,” explained IWC CEO Chris Grainger-Herr in a press release. “This collaboration will enable IWC Schaffhausen to intensify its research and development efforts for watches that are tested for spaceflight. During future, long-duration space missions, a mechanical watch showing Earth time can also be the object that emotionally connects the astronauts to their home.”

Before these instruments are launched into orbit, Vast engineers will test prototypes at their terrestrial labs. To become mission-ready, the hardware for spacecraft and timekeeping instruments will go through intense studies, including launch vibration simulations. These prototypes will then be evaluated and sent into space.
 

This collaboration also marks Vast’s inaugural brand partnership. And like IWC’s investment in F1, the partnership reflects the brand’s belief in boosting non-horological innovation. Meanwhile, Vast investigates opportunities for commercializing low-Earth orbit stations. IWC stands to gain from gathering intel on new materials and technology. It’s a win-win for all mankind.

Check out the IWC website for more information.