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When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity.

To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300� C.

The Russians used a pencil.

Enjoy paying your taxes.

Posted by Wayne on 2007-11-11 05:47:16 | Rating:

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		Hahaha. This is a perfect example how the world lives for complication. I guess it is a good distraction from why we are really here. You think?
Posted by DifficultSoul on 2007-11-11 11:19:22


		Nice!!! A pencil would have been smart, but that's the loser's easy way out! The scientists needed something to do.
Posted by MAK on 2007-11-11 15:01:49


		No wonder our taxes are so high. It shows that the Russians have more brains and use some.thing very simple as a pencil. Such a waste of money
Posted by norm4u2 on 2007-11-12 04:51:41


		While amusing, this anecdote is false. The early space missions (both American and Russian) used pencils. However pencils are hazardous in micro gravity environments (broken lead can easily cause injury to astronauts and can also short out electronics). The development of the pressurized cartridge pen was done by a private firm (Fisher) who were not contracted to develop the pens. They developed the pens at their own cost and sent them to NASA without being asked. NASA was so impressed with the pens that they proceeded to buy 400 pens (at just under $3 each) for use on future space flights. The Russians also bought the same type of pens for their space program.
Posted by atrebble on 2007-11-16 12:04:09