INTEGRATING THE BREMONT SUPERNOVA INTO ASTROLAB’S FLIP LUNAR ROVER
With Griffin Mission 1 (Griffin-1) approaching in the second half of 2026 - a mission that will see Astrolab’s FLIP Rover land on lunar south pole with the Bremont Supernova Chronograph integrated into its chassis - testing is moving forward to ensure both the rover and the watch can endure the conditions of space travel and the lunar surface.
Watch the video below to see how the watch has been integrated.
INSTALLING THE WATCH
Aviation has been part of Bremont’s DNA since the very beginning, and it’s an element we have proudly conquered with our watches over the years. Naturally, guided by our mantra, “take it further,” space and space exploration were the next frontier, and Astrolab’s lunar mission provided the perfect opportunity.
The design of the FLIP (FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform) rover includes both active science instruments and passive payloads. This meant the FLIP Rover was able to accommodate the Bremont Supernova, using a clamp system to integrate the watch into the chassis, to boldly take it where no British watch has gone before.
For this integration, every component of the watch needed to be considered, from its shape and weight to the materials and construction. This ensured the watch head could be integrated into the rover safely and securely inside the specially designed and engineered clamp to keep it protected during launch and travel. Only the watch head was integrated, as weight-saving is a crucial consideration.
THE RIGOURS OF LAUNCH AND SPACE FLIGHT
When FLIP takes the Supernova to the lunar south pole, both need to be able to endure the extreme conditions they will face. These conditions range from the shock and vibrations of launch, travelling through the vacuum of space, to the extreme and fluctuating temperatures that will be experienced both during space travel and throughout the lunar operations to follow.
During the flight and the lunar mission, the watch and the Astrolab rover may reach temperatures as high as 200ºC when in the light of the sun, or lows of -200ºC when in the shadows - and these extreme temperatures can fluctuate by actions as simple as the rover crossing a shadow boundary.
SURVIVING THE EXTREME
The Bremont Supernova Chronograph and the FLIP rover will be subject to a ruthless testing program, ‘Spacecraft Protoflight Qualification’, to ensure that they can withstand the rigours of launch, flight and survival on the Moon. All tests must be passed in order to fly.
Protoflight Qualification testing validates that flight hardware can survive mission environments by pushing units beyond expected flight conditions — covering structural, thermal, and electrical performance to confirm design and build maturity and margin
The process follows a “Test Like You Fly” philosophy, ensuring hardware is evaluated in configurations of actual flight. Test levels are deliberately more severe than the mission’s already demanding expectations, exposing hardware to conditions beyond worst case. Throughout, detailed procedures, plans, and results are documented to the demanding standards of spaceflight. The goal: optimum performance in one of the most brutal and unforgiving environments of our solar system.
Further updates will be provided on the testing protocols in due course. Make sure you’re signed up to Mission Control for the latest updates.
ONLY THE BEGINNING
Bremont and Astrolab share a mutual passion for engineering technology that can survive in extreme conditions. This has been an incredible journey and experience of learning for Bremont that will also help with the development of future watches.
Stay tuned for future updates on the mission, and see the space inspired collection of Supernova Chronograph for yourself.
In the coming weeks and months, we will continue to provide updates on Moon Mission I, including more details about the FLIP rover, the Supernova Chronograph and the testing protocols as they prepare for the mission.
Watch this space, stay informed, and witness history in the making.
