Everybody’s favourite space-fanatic watch brand is back with another impressive stratospheric stunt. In a recently released documentary, Swiss-born Fortis rocket launches its watches into space from the Esrange Space Centre in northern Sweden. Thirteen of its watches were aboard the spacecraft, which was specially designed for the mission.
Fortis has already pushed its watches to the limit through a stratospheric balloon mission back in 2021. Working closely with the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC), Fortis intended to prove the reliability of the redefined Stratoliner collection. And, by strapping several of its WERK 17 calibre movements to a balloon-driven gondola, it did just that. As the accompanying video shows, many of the movements remained unimpacted despite the exposure to intense stratospheric pressures. Consequently, Fortis became the first brand to design and test a space-proof movement.
But the ultimate question is, what more can a Fortis watch withstand?
The New Fortis Rocket Launch
This time around, Fortis has taken its space-testing efforts one step even further. In conjunction with the SSC, Fortis worked to design a watch that would endure the many phases of a rocket launch.
At the SSC laboratory in Solna, Sweden, Fortis began to work with various specialists on prototypes. This phase also involved building various mockups for equipment that would accompany the mission, such as the illumination system and camera. Moreover, various testing was carried out on the watches so their performance after the mission could be cross-referenced.
After a rigorous testing and troubleshooting phase, the new Stratoliner Supernovas were ready for the ultimate test. Returning to the Esrange Space Centre, which was also the site of the balloon launch, final preparations for takeoff were underway. Here, the Fortis team joined forces with more engineers and scientists to prepare the rocket and conduct final testing.
“The watches will first experience the rough launch environment” Stefan Krämer, the SSC program manager explains. Krämer elaborates that the watches would have to survive vibrations, differing atmospheric pressures, vacuum conditions, intense temperature fluctuations and microgravity. “And, in the end, they also have the re-entry” he continues.
Video: Fortis Rocket Launches Watches into Space
Miraculously, not only did every single Stratoliner Supernova survive the expedition, but also kept to time. The least successful watch of the thirteen only gained 3.9 seconds, whilst the most successful gained 0.2 seconds. Attesting to the exceptional quality of Fortis watches, this result is truly monumental.
As Jupp Philips, CEO and owner of Fortis, puts it: “If the watch survives a rocket launch, then it will also survive your everyday life”.
If you are also impressed by this incredible result as we are, be sure to check out other Fortis watches. To shop the full Fortis Stratoliner collection, click here.
