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USA needed a pen that would work in zero gravity for their Apollo missions.Some say it cost 3 million dollars to develop.
Russia had the same problem with their space program, so what did they do?
Gave every cosmonaut a pencil to write with.
edited to add a link have a read of : www.8march2003.com
dam story kept me up for hours reading the site. on another forum I belong to there has been quite alot of speculation and research done into this site, a few strange things have cropped up.
>>> Edited by Pookie on Tuesday 11th February 06:10
Russia had the same problem with their space program, so what did they do?
Gave every cosmonaut a pencil to write with.
edited to add a link have a read of : www.8march2003.com
dam story kept me up for hours reading the site. on another forum I belong to there has been quite alot of speculation and research done into this site, a few strange things have cropped up.
>>> Edited by Pookie on Tuesday 11th February 06:10
USA needed a pen that would work in zero gravity for their Apollo missions.Some say it cost 3 million dollars to develop.
Russia had the same problem with their space program, so what did they do?
Gave every cosmonaut a pencil to write with.
edited to add a link have a read of : www.8march2003.com
dam story kept me up for hours reading the site. on another forum I belong to there has been quite alot of speculation and research done into this site, a few strange things have cropped up.
>>> Edited by Pookie on Tuesday 11th February 06:10
Pookie,
This is a classic example of an Urban Legend which reaches such proportion that it assumes the mantle of being true.
In point of fact, it is 100% Totally False! The pen to which you refer is now marketed worldwide as the Fisher Space Pen. This pen was developed on 1965 by it's namesake Paul C. Fisher, who did so with no mandate or request from NASA.
Until that time, NASA Astronauts, (as did Soviet Cosmonauts), used standard lead pencils as writing instruments. Fisher reasoned that these were a hazard as the leads could break and float free about the spacecraft posing a danger to the crew (flying into an eye etc.) and to the spacecraft (because they were flammable and could short out electrical connections).
So, at a cost of $1,000,000, Fisher developed an all metal ballpoint pen with a pressurized ink cartridge which allowed writing at any angle. He then sent some samples to NASA, who tested them and found them to be a better writing instrument than the lead pencils which had been previously supplied to the astronauts. Fisher sold NASA 400 pens at the price of $2.95 each or a total of $590.00. No development costs were ever born by NASA. Eventually, even Soviet Cosmonauts were equipped with the Fisher Space Pen
I hope this alerts people not to take everything they read as absolute fact before researching it carefully.
The Internet can be a wonderful thing, it can also spread much misinformation and lead people to make poor, uninformed decisions. For more information regarding this Urban Legend check out the link below. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
[Url]www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.htm[/Url]
>> Edited by lotusguy on Tuesday 11th February 07:58
What is true is that NASA did develop for Apollo a clockwork shaver which swept up the bristles. NASA were paranoid about particles drifting behind panels and shorting out electrical circuits - especially after the Apollo 1 fire. However, astronauts found that a traditional safety razor and cream was just as effective in keeping the bristles from floating around.
I'm not sure how muchwas spent on the shaver but it was not US$ millions.
I'm not sure how muchwas spent on the shaver but it was not US$ millions.
I hope this alerts people not to take everything they read as absolute fact before researching it carefully.
It was not meant to be put on here as fact, (i know all about the real "space pen" like it matters), it was meant to be funny you know like ha ha! dam Americans etc.
and the 8march thing was posted just because of the writing, the guy/girl has a talent for creative writing, if he/she isn’t a professional already.
I hope this alerts people not to take everything they read absolutely seriously with out first considering other possibilities carefully.
Pookie said:
I hope this alerts people not to take everything they read as absolute fact before researching it carefully.
It was not meant to be put on here as fact, (i know all about the real "space pen" like it matters), it was meant to be funny you know like ha ha! dam Americans etc.
and the 8march thing was posted just because of the writing, the guy/girl has a talent for creative writing, if he/she isn’t a professional already.
I hope this alerts people not to take everything they read absolutely seriously with out first considering other possibilities carefully.
Pookie,
Please don't misunderstand my intent. Not everyone is as intelligent or well inforned as you are.
To post something like this without a disclaimer can lead many people to believe something which simply isn't true. Many pieces of information purported as fact or truth are often merely partially true. In the case of your initial posting, there is very little truth.
Being a former US Navy Fleet Aviator, and a Business Executive, I have to live in a world of fact as the decisions I have to make can have a great impact on people. Many believe that the world contains enough ambiguity without us adding to it.
An underlying message that America is foolish and wasteful, while the Soviets were practical and innovative comes through in your writing. If this is the message you hoped to convey, surely there is enough factual evidence to make your case. Happy Motoring! Jim'85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Tuesday 11th February 16:37
griff2be said:
lotusguy said: Being a former US Navy Fleet Aviator, and a Business Executive, I have to live in a world of fact as the decisions I have to make can have a great impact on people.
Bloody hell. That told us!!
Yeah, it told us that this big head has an ego the size of Arizona.....
it probably started with the thought that pencils are sharp dangerous implements, and therefore american astronaughts could not be trusted.
we have a company over here that spent billions developing a writing instrument especially for george bush, its called a crayola. writes on everything and doesnt require supervision
bennno
>> Edited by bennno on Tuesday 11th February 23:13
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