35 years since G-SHOCK launched, we sent a watch designed to withstand the most extreme conditions on earth on a record-breaking galactic mission into the unknown.

Blasting off from Yorkshire, the GPW-2000 GRAVITYMASTER lived up to its name as it was propelled into the stratosphere towards zero gravity using the latest NASA approved metrological flight balloon. The G-SHOCK’S space odyssey included:

• Temperatures of minus 58 degrees Celsius
• Height of 44.1km above the earth (the highest ascent achieved by this type of space balloon)
• 25km surge past the ‘Armstrong Limit’, the outer limit of human survival before blood begins to boil
• One hour and 22 minutes in space

In the contest of G-SHOCK versus g-force, the 120g timepiece, built to withstand the most extreme temperatures and conditions known to mankind, also endured:

• Crushing g-forces of 3.63G
• Air pressure of 0.00146bar (325,000 times less than the lowest tolerable air pressure ever recorded on Earth)
• Virtually moisture-free humidity levels of 0.02%

After surviving space, the still functioning G-SHOCK – designed to accurately keep time anywhere in the world – hurtled back to Earth to complete a galactic round trip of 82.55 kilometres, taking two hours and forty-six minutes.

As a final test of the watch’s tough credentials, the last leg of its mission was a 65 kmph free-fall to earth for 123 metres – 14 metres higher than St Paul’s Cathedral in London – over 12 times the standard 10 metre drop every G-SHOCK is tested to withstand.

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