Let’s Talk About Space: Fortis, Fratello, And Esrange On The Subject Of Watches In Space

“All kids” are intrigued by space I presume, but as an oldie, I grew up when this was fresh meat. Now, there are a lot of people working with this in different capacities and for different purposes. Maybe space (GPS/Location and IT) is such an integrated part of youngsters life that they miss the exiting parts?

As a Master Mariner by origin, I have spent many many hours waiting for the best stars and planets to display themselves in a combination that enabled me to put 3 lines down on the chart (2 for position and a 3rd for verification). In particular at full moon (from 2-3 days before until 2-3 days after) because the light from the moon provides a better horizon. I still remember the exitement waiting for the southern cross to become visible and see it for the first time. Every sunrise, morning, noon, afternoon and sunset: The sun. Positions and verification of the gyro and the compass.

As 1st officer, you are responsible for the navigation, and that means planning the voyages and keep track of ETA, speed, drift, distances and so on. Another responsibility is maintaning charts (still miss my great collection of Rotring pens), books, celestial tables and navigational equipment such as Radio Direction Finder, Loran C, Decca, Gyro, Chronometer and sextant.

Then came the GPS. The first professional models I got my hands on didn’t calculate GC (Great Circle – meredians are GC) but rhumbline only, and that ment manual calculations of e.g interrupted GC from Yokohama to Panama. (Interrupted means setting a maximum latitude e.g to avoid typical bad weather further north). The first GPS I used calculating GC was actually a consumer model.

Anyway, when I did my thesis I did so about the GPS including quite a bit about satellite technology, time measurement, orbits and so on. I got into trouble because the censor didn’t have the slightest clue about the technology though. It was a professional interest, and the knowledge I gained from working with my thesis was actually very useful.

In particular when the americans performed naval operations in the middle east. They realligned the satellites to have optimal coverage in their preferred area and added error models to reduce accuracy for civilian users. I kept on using the sextant and chronometer to keep my skills sharp.

The sextant, time and the chronometer is essential for celestial navigation, thus nobody ever dared to mess with the chronometer. Only the 1.st Officer and the Captain are adjusting the sextant, and they are the only ones allowed to open the box (glass top on the lid) placed in a special trunk with glass cover on the chart table.

Time STILL is essential for all kinds of navigation and navigational technology, and knowledge of the sun, moon, stars and planets (and now satellites) thus space is a part of the navigational DNA. A lot of people believe that the manual methods are outdated, but I beg to differ. Any time they find it advantageous, the accuracy of satellite navigation can be changed and cover lost, and the russians or the chinese might want to jam the signals from GPS and Galileo or vice versa.

The interest for space has been a part of my entire life since i was 14 and got my first nautical certificate.

I have joked about my favourite mechanical complication a couple of times (The perpetual true noon travel GMT), but nobody have taken the bate. I suspect that is because quite a few are interested in calibres and complications, whereas quite few understands time 😉