Richard Garriott Returns Safely To Earth After Space Flight. And Seiko Spring Drive Proves Its Merit.
At 11:37 EDT, on October 23, 2008, a Soyuz TMA 13 spacecraft landed safely and on target in the Kazakhastan steppes. Aboard were two Russian cosmonauts, Oleg Kononenko and Sergei Volkov and the American space tourist, Richard Garriott.
Richard had blasted off from the Baikonur Space Centre 12 days earlier arriving at the International Space Station on October 14. During his stay in space, Richard conducted numerous scientific experiments on behalf of NASA, The European Space Agency and conducted a number of educational out-reach programmes including a NASA-sponsored teleconference with students from all over the world.
On landing, Richard said,
“This mission to the ISS fulfilled a lifelong dream to experience spaceflight as my father first did 35 years ago; it's an honor to be the first American to follow a parent into space.” He said the experience was more gratifying than anything he could have imagined. “While in space, I had the opportunity to conduct scientific experiments and environmental research, but what was most rewarding was speaking to students,” he said. “Growing up in an astronaut family, I firmly believed that every person could go to space, and now I have. I took this opportunity to inspire them with my adventure and let them know they can achieve their wildest dreams as well with hard work and perseverance.” - Please refer to http://www.spaceadventures.com.
Throughout his mission, Richard wore the Spring Drive Spacewalk watch that SEIKO EPSON's engineers and designers had designed expressly for the space mission. It performed faultlessly, keeping perfect time, and requiring no winding or adjustment. Richard praised its performance:
Richard was wearing Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk watches in ISS
“During the flight, SEIKO Spring Drive Spacewalk has performed admirably for me. Even before the flight, Spring Drive Spacewalk had already provided great service and survived through some torturous training such as a nominal 4g and a ballistic 9g re-entry simulation in the centrifuge. While these extremes challenge the human body and have destroyed a competitors watch worn by my backup in this simulation, Spring Drive Spacewalk performed perfectly under all those conditions. I am proud to have the opportunity to wear it.”
SEIKO now seeks to demonstrate the suitability of this watch on a real space walk and is in active discussions to make this possible on a future space tourism mission.
SEIKO congratulates Richard on his great achievement and thanks both Richard and Space Adventures Ltd.
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