NASA

• polarsnake

  2 Apr 07, 01:44

  When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300o C. The Russians used a pencil.
• zoook

  2 Apr 07, 02:51

  
• Gordonator

  2 Apr 07, 23:34

  already heard it before.
  
  but nevertheless... 0wn3d!
• Unidentified

  2 Apr 07, 23:51

  
  
  Good one , cheers to the russians
• LazerLordz

  2 Apr 07, 23:52

  "American, Russian equipment..all made in Taiwan!"
  
  - Armageddon.
  
• whereismyrib

  3 Apr 07, 02:06

  Originally posted by LazerLordz:

  "American, Russian equipment..all made in Taiwan!"
  
  - Armageddon.
  

  Armageddon?
• MohamedF

  3 Apr 07, 02:10

  Originally posted by LazerLordz:

  "American, Russian equipment..all made in Taiwan!"
  
  - Armageddon.
  

  This goes more like this:-
  
  "American component, Russian Component... ALL MADE IN TAIWAN!!!"
  
  
• allentyb

  3 Apr 07, 02:13

  i heard this before already
• polarsnake

  3 Apr 07, 16:38

  AIyah I also heard before donno how many years liao. Now then I post
• omgukilledkenny

  3 Apr 07, 16:43

  haha
• crofty

  3 Apr 07, 16:44

  
• sand king

  3 Apr 07, 19:09

  Heard Before Laio, kudos!
• jay_rocks

  7 Apr 07, 13:05

  hmm...
• VODKA KE0601

  7 Apr 07, 16:07

  Originally Posted By polarsnake:
  
  When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300o C. The Russians used a pencil.
  
  

  Interesting trivia, if only it was true.
  From Snopes.Com...
  
  

  
  Lead pencils was used on all Mercury and Gemini space flights and all Russian space flights prior to 1968.
  
  

  Due to the flammability and electrical conductivity of pencil and it's related component, Paul C. Fisher developed a pen (After The Apollo 1 Incident, That Kills Three Astronauts) that conforms to strict criteria as set by NASA at the costs of US$1 million dollars (Not US$12 billion dollars, as stated on the article). No development finances was provided the government, and was sold to NASA for US$2.95 each.
  
  RKA (Russian Federal Space Agency) eventually purchase the pen as well..., now known as the Fisher Pen...