Prepare for liftoff with this programable calculator watch resembling Apollo 11’s guidance computer

Cool stuff: A British startup has developed a watch geared at NASA super geeks (you know who you are). The timepiece takes the concept of the calculator watch, which was highly popular in the 1980s, and raises it to the next level. It looks like an Apollo Guidance Computer shrunk to the size of a smartwatch.

Apollo Instruments has introduced the DSKY Moonwatch. Standing for display and keyboard, the DSKY Moonwatch resembles the guidance computers used in the Apollo missions, including the world-famous Apollo 11 moon landing that put Neil Armstong and Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface.

However, it’s not just a static replica. The Moonwatch has a fully functional keyboard and can operate as a calculator. While this feature is cool and nostalgic, the Moonwatch is far more innovative than that. It may be even smarter than your current smartwatch.

While it only has a calculator app for now, if you have experience with Arduino or Python, you can program the watch via a micro-USB port. Apollo Instruments says it will also push out in-house and community-developed program modules in future updates. For now, users can simply enjoy the multifunctional watch for its aesthetic.

The Moonwatch can also attach to other devices, including breadboard interfaces, development enclosures, and robotic systems through a proprietary eight-channel I/O port. These devices are currently under development. The company noted that one of its upcoming projects replicates the form and function of the original Apollo guidance computer’s main chassis.

Original DSKY AGC. (Image credit: Henristosch)

The Moonwatch is about the size of a typical smartwatch and comes with the choice of a brown or black leather band. It has a classic green-on-black monochrome display, giving it a nostalgic feel while making it clear and easy to read. The keys are small but appear larger than the old (and new) classic calculator watches.

The light-up panel and the OLED digital dispaly are close to, but not the same as, the original computer. Overall, it’s a nice-looking watch with a ceramic-coated stainless steel chassis that contrasts nicely with the band. It is a bit geeky, but no more so than your typical calculator watches, which are making a comeback.

The watch’s only real drawback is its price. Apollo Instruments wants £649 (about $812 US) for the DSKY Moonwatch. That’s more than an Apple Watch Ultra 2. At that price point, it might only attract the hardcore Apollo fan. Pre-orders have started for customers willing to pay a £240 ($300) deposit. The remainder is due at shipping. The company expects to begin delivering units in the first quarter of 2025.

There are some slight incentives for US customers, but they come with a few caveats. For $300 down, you can pre-order the watch, and Apollo Instruments will discount the sales tax cost in your state. This discount is limited to 200 orders per state on average. That would amount to about 10,000 units sold in the US. However, those living in Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon can’t get the discount since they have no sales tax.

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