https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/just-because-seiko-6139-the-other-first-automatic-chronograp

Touted as the world’s first automatic chronograph to hit the production lines, these models draw their nickname from Col. William R. Pogue having worn the 6139-6002 into space on a NASA Skylab 4 mission in 1973. Since this finding was revealed, these models have only seen increasing popularity.