The Fisher Space Pen was not only available to NASA Astronauts but readily available, at almost any store that sold school supplies, to the general public as well, and at a reasonable price. They were heavily advertised on television. It was a ball-point that used compressed air acting on a small airtight disk in the ink tube to feed the ink to the point.
I actually have several of these pens as well and they do write well. However, they aren’t perfect in that the ink is relatively thick in comparison to others, so the lines are thicker than other pens. At least so far I haven’t seen a finer point Fischer space pen.
microscopic graphite flakes from a mechanical pencil will float about in zero-g… and could float over to short-circuit electronics… how lucky do you feel in space?
The ink is just pressurized so not a big deal. We use pressurized spray cans every day. It does cost more to make though, but as Scott says, reasonable, whereas most developments for space travel can’t be amortized with a lot of sales, a space pen could be marketed (and was) to the general public.
prrdh almost 3 years ago
I thought the space pen was developed as a way to use up unsold Space Food Sticks. Ram an ink cartridge up one and you’re good to go.
LOLBeth almost 3 years ago
The Soviets did, indeed, buy space pens from the US and use them in place of pencils.
Nuliajuk almost 3 years ago
Shavings? Wouldn’t they have just used something like a 0.7mm mechanical pencil?
Flatworm almost 3 years ago
The Fisher Space Pen was not only available to NASA Astronauts but readily available, at almost any store that sold school supplies, to the general public as well, and at a reasonable price. They were heavily advertised on television. It was a ball-point that used compressed air acting on a small airtight disk in the ink tube to feed the ink to the point.
Thinkingblade almost 3 years ago
I actually have several of these pens as well and they do write well. However, they aren’t perfect in that the ink is relatively thick in comparison to others, so the lines are thicker than other pens. At least so far I haven’t seen a finer point Fischer space pen.
edkorczynski almost 3 years ago
microscopic graphite flakes from a mechanical pencil will float about in zero-g… and could float over to short-circuit electronics… how lucky do you feel in space?
57BelAir almost 3 years ago
The ink is just pressurized so not a big deal. We use pressurized spray cans every day. It does cost more to make though, but as Scott says, reasonable, whereas most developments for space travel can’t be amortized with a lot of sales, a space pen could be marketed (and was) to the general public.