The Start Trek Rolex GMT Master at NASA

...William Shatner's 80th Birthday Celebration...

It's Been A Long, Long Time

It's William Shantner's 80th Birthday today!!!! Hard to believe the old boy is 80, and that he was born in 1931. As a Tribute, to his 80th birthday, I am sharing this post. William Shatner is in a class, all by himself!!!

Another STAR TREK Rolex

Memories Are Made Of This

"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations–to boldly go where no man has ever gone before!!!"

In November of 2008 I wrote the original Star Trek Rolex story which appears below this new introduction. The original Star Trek TV series was a seminal science-fiction institution and it was amazing. To this day, generations of people around the world still enjoy watching the original series which was ahead of its time in many ways.

Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock are as iconic today as the Rolex Submariner and Rolex GMT Master. Somehow their personalities played perfectly off of each other, and how cool were these guys?!!!!!!! So cool...just Super cool...

The photo below of William Shatner posing in front of a spaced-out car is really cool for some reason.

In this story we are going to explore and episode of Star Trek which was shot at NASA and discover how one of the cast members was wearing a Rolex GMT Pepsi, but I also wanted to share this photo from 1974 or Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), Deforest Kelly (Bones), and William Shatner (Captain Kirk).

In this photo from the L.A. Times Archives, the three are recording their voices for a Star Trek Cartoon. Notice that William Shatner is wearing a Rolex Submariner.

This next photo is of the original cast that starred together in a Star Trek movie. In many ways, since so many of us are so familiar with the cast, they almost seem like family members.

The STAR TREK Rolex

GMT Master at NASA

This is a most fascinating Rolex history story. It all began during a podcast interview which I conducted with one of the most highly decorated NASA astronauts in history, Dr. Leroy Chiao.

Dr. Leroy Chiao served on three Space Shuttle Missions for NASA as a scientific officer and later was the Commander of The International Space Station on Expidition 10. Dr. Chiao lived on the International Space Station for 26 weeks. You can read all about Dr. Chiao and listen to my podcast interview I conducted with him by clicking here.

NASA International Space Station Mission Commander, Dr. Leroy Chiao is pictured above

During my podcast interview with Leroy Chaio, he mentioned he recalled seeing a Rolex on an episode of Star Trek, with a character named Cary Seven, and he also mentioned there were many great NASA shots taken at Cape Canaveral.

Yesterday, I put up the story about the new Star Trek movie coming at Christmas time which takes place when Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock were younger than in the original Star Trek TV show. It looks from the movie trailer like it might just be a superb movie. This got me thinking about he how Dr. Chiao mentioned the Star Trek episode with the Rolex, so I did the research and found it.

The Star Trek episode named Assignment Earth is number 55, and it was the last show from the second season in 1968 which originally aired March 29, 1968 (Season 2, Episode 26). It was also a television pilot for a Star Trek spin-off show Gene Roddenberry hoped to launch based around this really cool new character named Gary Seven. I watched the entire episode and really enjoyed it.

I will do my best to walk you through the Star Trek episode and show you the Rolex GMT that NASA astronaut, Dr. Leroy Chiao discovered.

Assignment Earth [Star Trek. Episode #55, 1968]

Episode #55 begins with the Starship Enterprise traveling through the time-space continuum back to 1968 to conduct a mission as part of an earth history research program. All of a sudden, a man who is trying to beam to earth gets beamed onto the Enterprise transport station by mistake. His introduces himself to Captian Kirk as Gary Seven (played by actor Robert Lansing, who looked a lot like Steve McQueen).

Gary Seven's human ancestors were abducted from Earth around 4000BC and taken to an invisible cloaked planet named System Zeta Gamma 357. Gary comes back to Earth in 1968 on a mission to try and save Earth from nuclear destruction.

Gary Seven travels with his companion pussy cat named Isis and as you can see in the photo below when Captain Kirk first encounters Gary Seven in the transport room, Gary Seven is wearing a Rolex GMT Master Pepsi.

Gary 7 tells Kirk he is from an invisible planet and he has come to Earth to save it from a nuclear holocaust. Kirk does not know what to do so he puts Gary Seven in a holding cell.

Gary Seven, is upset because he is on a time critical mission to save Earth and he does not want to waste time in confinement so he pulls out a pen weapon and uses it to escape, and this in when we get the best close-up shots of his Rolex GMT Master with the Pepsi bezel.

I think Leroy thought Gary Seven was wearing a Rolex Submariner, but it turns out he was wearing a Rolex GMT Master. I was able to discern this from the screen capture as seen below. Ironically this is the same Rolex model that NASA astronaut, Leroy Chiao wears, with the same Pepsi bezel.

After successfully escaping his confinement, Gary Seven goes back to the transporter room and beams down to earth. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock decide they must follow him down to earth so the put on time specific costumes and try to find Gary Seven.

They chase Gary Seven around New York city, and then they all end up at NASA's Cape Canaveral, in Florida, where an Apollo rocket is being launched with a test nuclear warhead on it. Gary Seven sneaks onto the launch-pad and manipulates the Saturn rocket.

I won't ruin the ending for you in case you wish to watch it yourself, but like all Star Trek episodes, everything works out in the end. Gary Seven's secretary, Ms. Roberta Lincoln was played by the young Teri Garr. The Gary Seven pilot was never picked up, which is a shame, but my best guess is that Gary Seven would have been like a James Bond agent, but from a different planet.

I had to put share this picture of the beautiful Ohura with her Bluetooth headset. It is fascinating how much technology from Star Trek has actually come to reality.

The screen shot below from episode 55 of Star Trek is of Doctor McCoy, a.k.a., Bones. My grandfather Jake Ehrlich Sr., had an amazing connection to Deforest Kelley who played Bones as well as Gene Roddenberry who wrote and produced Star Trek.

Several years before Star Trek, Gene Roedenburry created another made for TV pilot that was based upon my grandfather, Jake Ehrlich Sr.'s legal career, in which Deforest Kelly plays the role of my grandfather Jake. You can learn more about Gene Roddenberry, Deforest Kelly and my grandfather's relationship with them as well as watch the pilot by clicking here.

You can watch the complete episode of Star Trek, Assignment Earth free by clicking anywhere on the picture below. Tip: you can also watch any other episode of the original Star Trek once you click the below image. As Spock says at the end of the episode, "May you live long and prosper."

International Space Station Tour!!! Full Tour In High Defenition

International Space Station Tour!!!Insane Full-Tour In High Defenition
In 2008 we did a story and podcast with Dr. Leroy Chaio who was the expedition leader and Commander of the International Space Station Expedition 10 which gave him the opportunity to live on the International Space Station for 6.5 months. Dr. Leroy Chaio of NASA is pictured below.

One of the great questions, is what is it like to live on the International Space Station? In this amazing video we are taken on an amazing high-defenition NASA tour video by U.S. NASA Space Shuttle Pilot Barry Willmore!!!! Barry appears to be wearing an Omega Speedmaster on his left wrist and some kind of digital watch on his right wrist. If you have the all-new 27 inch iMac, go into full-screen mode and turn the volume way up!!!

Rolex Blog: 100PERCENT-ROLEX!!!

Introducing

My Buddy Bernhard's Blog!!!

I have a fascinating story to share with you about my pal Bernhard's new Rolex Blog from the Dutch, Netherlands!!! Bernhard has an amazing collection of vintage Rolex watches and his blog is named 100percent-rolex.blogspot.com and you can check it out by clicking here.

Some of you may know Berhnard by his online handle of Bullibeer. I first came across Bullibeer in the German R-L-X.de forum a few years ago. He had a distinct trademark with his photos whereby he typically would take unusual wrist-shots of his super-cool vintage Rolex watches, and he would typically include his pant legs and vintage athletic shoes in the photo.

The Sneaker & Pant Wrist-Shot Style

by

Bernhard [Bullibeer]

I think it is very interesting that Bernhard created his own unique style of wrist-shot by shooting photos that include his pants and shoes. In many ways, Bernhard took the wrist-shot to a new level. Of course, anybody can shoot this style, but to the best of my knowledge Bernhard invented it. Very interesting, very cool and very unusual...

I remember when I first started seeing Bernhard's unusual wrist shots thinking Bernhard must be as crazy about Rolex design as I was, but in a different way.!!!

Jameslist.com recently wrote a story about the recent story I wrote about how I discovered a 7th Rolex on Daniel Craig, who plays James Bond. This recent Jameslist story is named Daniel Craig Tale Of Treachery Continues.

Jameslist.com began the story:

"The fantastic Mr. Ehrlich over at Jake's Rolex Blog (a must for any Rolex nutter) recently unveiled the next step in Daniel Craig's masterplan to annoy the hell out of Omega."

I've heard RolexAholic, Rolex Junkie, Rolex Fanatic, RISistus, but I must admit I had never heard "Rolex Nutter." Several days later, Love Blomquist from Jameslist.com emailed me to tell me about a follow-up article Jameslist.com published.

Love Blomquest, who is a writer from Jameslist.com and lives in Stockholm Sweden proceeded to tell me he was a "long-time fan" of Jake's Rolex Watch Blog and he thought The Daniel Craig who plays James Bond who prefers wearing Rolex in his personal life article was a "great article" then he asked me when the podcasts are coming back?

The reason I brought up the Jameslist.com story is because Berhnhard (Bullibeer) and I are indeed Rolex Nutter's!!!! Also, there will be many, many great podcasts coming up on Jake's Rolex Watch Blog for everybody that is interested. I only mention this because so many people ask me.

So back to Bernhard's new Rolex Blog named 100PERCENT-ROLEX [THE BLOG FOR ROLEX PASSIONADO's]. "Rolex Passionado's" is also a new term for me ;-)

Bernhard has an amazing Rolex collection and his blog is great which you can check it out by clicking here.

Bernhard and I have become pals over the years and please join me in wishing him nothing but the best with his new blog!!!

It is really amazing how in many ways the online Rolex community is really like an extended family. First you casually observe members of the community from your catbird seat (computer screen), all of a sudden you end up meeting them at a GTG or in a forum or through email and you become pals!!!

By the way, Berhard has a thing for retro athletic shoes also which he is cover on his blog. I remember when I first saw the photo below thinking "What a trippy dude!?!" I mean "trippy" in a good way!!!

Bernhard's Final Holy Grail

Paul Newman Exotic Dial Rolex Daytona

As I mentioned earlier, Berhnard (Bullibeer) has an amazing collection of vintage Rolex watches, many of which I have published stories on over the years. I think one of the reasons Bernhard started his blog is so he could have a centralized place to share all his photos.

The two photos above and below are from a story I did back in June of 2009 about how Bernhard finally found his last grail Rolex which was a beautiful Paul Newman Daytona [Exotic Dial] which you can check out in more by clicking here.

In the online Rolex community there are three dudes that I know of that are real Paul Newman Rolex Daytona "Nutters." First is Berhnard (Bulliebeer), second is Jeff (Dr. Strong) and third is myself.

All three of us seem to think Paul Newman was one of the coolest guys on earth and if you want to learn more and see many great photos of Paul Newman wearing his trademark Paul Newman Daytona please click here.

I remember when I first saw this next photo Bernhard took years ago of his Paul Newman Exotic Dial Daytona on a FATSTRAP–I thought it was so cool and powerful!!! This great Rolex image of Bernhard's will alway remain highly iconic and inspirational for me:

You know, it is amazing, now that I think about it, how many vintage Rolex memories I have from Jake's Rolex Watch Blog that have to do with Bernhard!!! I remember one weekend, a long time ago, I published a story about how I had done a podcast with the highly decorated NASA Astronaut and International Space Station Commander Dr. Leroy Chiao.

The STAR TREK Rolex

GMT Master at NASA

Dr. Chiao mentioned that when he was a kid, he remembered watching an episode of Star Trek that had a character named Gary 7 who somehow took Captain Kirk and Spock back to Cape Canaveral during the Apollo days, and this Gary 7 figure was wearing a Pepsi GMT. You can check out that original story by clicking here.

To make a long story short, I remember Bernhard getting very excited about the Star Trek story and about another story I did that same week featuring screen-grabs from I Spy.

I Spy a Rolex GMT Pepsi

Here are a few screen grabs from the first episode I analyzed of I Spy that show Kelly and Scotty that Bernhard got excited about last November. It's a Deja Vu kind-of-thang ;-))))

If you have been a reader of Jake's Rolex Watch Blog for a while and you are wondering what happened to I Spy Saturday and Flipper Friday and Miami Vice Monday, I plan to bring them all back as soon as I complete the current series I am working on about the history of the Submariner.

I think young Bill Cosby sporting his Pepsi GMT Master on I Spy is so cool!!!

Santa on the International Space Station...

Rolex on the International Space Station at Christmas

Recently I was doing research in the NASA Archive and I came across this image of Dr. Leroy Chiao taken during Christmas onboard the International Space Station in 2004. Dr. Chiao flew on three Space Shuttle Missions prior to being the Commander of Expedition 10. 

I wrote a detailed article that included a fascinating podcast interview with Dr. Chiao which you can see by clicking here. Beyond his incredible career as a NASA astronaut, Dr. Chiao is an amazing man of incredible achievement!!!

Of course Dr. Chiao is sporting his Pepsi GMT Master on the jubilee bracelet. I also think I see an HP iPaq Pocket PC floating around above the IBM Thinkpad in the upper right hand corner of the photo. We sure have come a long way in 4 years from the iPaq to the iPhone.

The Start of Star Trek...

The Start of Star Trek Movie

What does Star Trek have to do with Jake's Rolex Watch Blog beside the fact that William Shatner wears a Rolex? Two things:

1. In my podcast I did with Mercury astronaut, Scott Carpenter, I mentioned that in the upcoming Star Trek movie trailer that just before Leonard Nimoy says the now famous, "Space, the final frontier" that you hear a sound-byte from JFK's moon speech and then you hear Scott Carpenter say, "Godspeed, John Glenn."

2. In my Podcast with International Space Station astronaut, Leroy Chiao, he mentioned that a Star Trek character named Gary 7 is shown wearing a Rolex Submariner on the original TV show.

I am not a Trekky, but when I was a kid, I loved watching Start Trek with Willaim Shatner as Captian Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. I was not crazy about any of the Star Trek movies, but this next one looks like it might be amazing. It will be appearing soon in movie theaters. Kind of cool, first James Bond, and now Star Trek...

It takes place before on the time-scale, prior to the original TV series, so we get to learn about how the original characters were formed. It is really a prequel. To watch the amazing trailers click here. I recommend watching the 720p or 1080p if you computer can handle it.

The Story of NASA Astronaut Leroy Chiao & His Rolex GMT Master II [Part 1 of 2]

The Story Of NASA Astronaut Leroy Chiao

and His Pepsi Rolex GMT Master In Space

[Part 1 of 2]

The Podcast

This is the story of NASA Astronaut, Doctor Leroy Chiao PH.D, who is one of the most decorated and experienced Astronauts in history. I very, very highly recommend you listen to the podcast interview I did with Dr. Chiao. Dr Chiao is an incredible human being and absolute gentleman. (Running Time 1:19:31)

To listen to the podcast click on the play button. (If you are using Internet Explorer you may need to click the play button twice):

To listen to the amazing Podcast interview in another window, click here.

If you want to subscribe or listen to the podcast in iTunes please click the icon below:

Rolex In Space

Dr. Leroy Chiao is one of the most experienced and accomplished NASA Astronauts alive today. He flew on three Space Shuttles as the Science Officer, and was the Commander of The International Space Station on-board Expedition 10.

Leroy Chiao was on-board Space Shuttle STS-65 Columbia (July8-July 23, 1994) which was launched from and landed back at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, which set a new flight duration record.

Leroy also flew on-board Space Shuttle STS-72 Endeavor (January 11-January 20, 1996) which flew a nine day mission to retrieve the Space Flyer Unit launched from Japan ten months earlier. Chiao executed two spacewalks designed to experiment procedures for the assembly of the International Space Station.

Next Leroy Chiao, flew on Space Shuttle STS-92 Discovery (October 11-October 24, 2000) which launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Leroy Chiao was the Commander of Expedition 10 on the International Space Station (ISS) which launched October 9, 2004 and returned April 24, 2005.

Rolex On The Space Shuttle

Dr. Chiao is pictured above in his official NASA photo.

Dr. Chiao was on-board the Space Shuttle pictured below.

The photo below is of the Space Shuttle landing with Dr. Chiao on-board.

Dr. Chiao is pictured standing up on the far left of the photo below with his fellow members on board the Space Shuttle.

Dr. Chiao is pictured below preparing to take off on a Space Shuttle Mission.

Dr. Chiao is picture below in a training class.

Dr. Chiao is pictured below during wilderness training at NASA.

Rolex on The International Space Station

Dr. Chiao was the Commader of the International Space Station on-board Expedition 10 and is pictured below with his Russian crewmember as they arrive to begin preparations to launch.

Dr. Leroy Chiao is pictured training for launch below.

Dr. Chiao is pictured on the far right posing for an official crew photo for Expedition 10.

Commander Chiao is pictured below as he prepares for take-off on the Russian Soyuz Rocket to go the International Space Station.

Of course, Commander Chiao is sporting his Rolex GMT Master II with the Pepsi bezel and the Jubilee Bracelet in Stainless Steel. You can see it peeking out of launch suit in the photo below.

Dr. Leroy Chiao was the Commander of Expedition 10 and is pictured below welcoming new members on board the International Space Station.

In the photo below the crewmembers of the International Space Station of Expedition 10 pose to have their picture taken in the Destiny laboratory.

From the left (front row) are astronaut Leroy Chiao, Expedition 10 commander and NASA Space Station science officer; and cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov, Expedition 10 flight engineer representing Russia's Federal Space Agency. From the left (back row) are European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Roberto Vittori of Italy; cosmonaut Dirgei Krikalev, Expedition 11 commander representing Russia's Federal Space Agency; and astronaut John Phillips, Expedition 11 NASA Space Station science officer and flight engineer.

The photo below is of Dr. Chaio floating in the zero-gravity environment as he works on preparing some diagnostics.

The photo below is of Commander Chiao during EVA (Extra Vehicle Activity) on a Spacewalk outside the International Space Station. Those are solar panels between him and Earth.

Commander Chiao is working out on the International Space Station as pictured below.

Another close-up shot wrist shot of Commander Chiao's GMT Pepsi in Stainless Steel with the Jubilee Bracelet. A very cool watch indeed!!! Dr. Chiao has owned and depended on his GMT for almost 20 years now. He wore his beautiful and trusted GMT on 3 Space Shuttle missions and on the International Space Station.

Commander Chiao is pictured below floating around in the zero-gravity environment of the International Space Station.

Another cool wrist shot of Commander Chiao's Rolex GMT Pepsi as he is conducting scientific research on board the International Space Station.

Commander Chiao took the photo of himself in his fellow Astronauts mirrored face mask with clouds from earth behind him. What a cool shot!!!

Dr. Chiao is holding up the Fairview Falcons Flag in Space.

The photo below is of the official Expedition 10 Mission poster for the International Space Station. Commander Leroy Chiao is pictured on the left with his Russian Science officer Salizhan Sharipov.

Doctor Chiao is pictured below in the Oval Office with President Bush.

In the photo below Dr. Chiao is playing with huge drops of water that are floating in the zero gravity environment.

Above Earth

In the podcast, Dr. Chiao promised he would share some of his favorite photos he took from the International Space Station, and he delivered on that promise!!! The images are breathtaking!!!

Tip: You must click on these images to see the amazing detail!!!

This first image seen below is taken above Egypt.

The crazy-beautiful image below is taken over the tip of Florida

The image below is the International Space Station with Earth below it

That is New York pictured below

The photo below was taken over the Salamat Basin in Chad

The Moon and Earth's atmosphere

The Himalayan Mountains are pictured below

The Northernmost parts of Cape Cod National Seashore pictured below

The Algerian Desert pictured below

The Great Wall of China and Inner Mongolia pictured below

The large City of Beijing (Peking) below

Dr. Leroy Chai was the First Raborn Distinguished Chair of the Max Faget Mechanical Engineering Professor at Louisiana State University and his faculty photo is pictured below.

Dr. Chaio is pictured below on Devon Island with Sapphire Lake pictured behind him.

Dr. Leroy Chaio is pictured below with CNN's Miles O'brien at the launching of the Space Shuttle Endevour on August 11, 2007.

Fantastic Voyage

Dr. Leroy Chaio bought his Rolex two decades ago, before he was an Astronaut. He wore his trused Rolex GMT on 3 NASA Space Shuttle missions and as the Commander of Space Station. Dr. Chaio is one of the most experienced and decorated astronauts in the history of space exploration.

Dr. Chaio left NASA because he had achieved everything he could at NASA, so what does a space pioneer do for an encore? He Joined the Excalibur Almaz Space Company as the Chief of Spacecraft Operations which is working on a program for civilian space tourism and exploration.

Doctor Chiao is pictured above in a fascinating article about him that appeared recently in USA Today's Weedend Magazine which you can read by clicking here. 

As crazy as it may sound, I believe long-term Rolex ownership propels and inspires people to achieve all kinds of great things. There is something about the Rolex GMT, Submariner, and Daytona Sports models as well as all the other Rolex models that make the wearer feel like they can achieve anything. In my mind, Leroy Chiao is the living epitome of a Rolex high achiever and pioneer.

Rolex thought the same thing and after Dr. Chiao retired from NASA they engraved the back of Leroy Chaio's GMT Master II with all four of his NASA Mission numbers. 

The photo above and below is of the back of Dr. Chaio's trusted Rolex that accompanied him on three Space Shuttle Missions and to the International Space Station. I wonder what fascinating future missions he will wear his beloved Rolex GMT on!?!

Dr. Chiao's Wikipedia page click here.

Dr. Chiao's blog click here.

Dr. Chiao's website click here.