3. OMEGA was also present during pivotal moments in human exploration.Omega has certainly made its mark outside of space but it has also proved instrumental in the exploration of the Earth. An Omega watch accompanied man in the pioneer expeditions to both ends of the planet – the North Pole and the South Pole. On April 19, 1968, American explorer Ralph Plaisted led the first surface expedition to the exact geographic North Pole. With three other brave men, he made the 412-mile, 43-day trek, using only a sextant and an Omega Speedmaster to calculate the exact position. In February 1990, at the other end of the world, Arved Fuchs and Reinhold Messner traversed Antartica on foot to reach the South Pole. Braving temperatures of -40 degrees, a 1,740-mile walk and a 90-day journey, the duo were the first to make it to the South Pole with neither animal nor motorized help. They used an Omega Speedmaster as their timekeeper during the mission. |