Our taxes at work

[EZ3PUTT]

Ball Point Pen In Space

 

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,

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 - they're due again.

[Lars Christensen]

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

I love this country

 

 

Lars

[pno]

Expensive pen!

Sometimes if you do not have money to spend, you find cheapest solution. In my shop everyday, it is happening....

[Charles Davis]

Don't you mean Million instead of Billion?

 

I think you're off by a factor of 1,000.

[Thad]

"Space pens" have been out for years. I got one for Christmas in the mid 90s.

 

Thad

[gcode]

I think we can also thank NASA for

the computer chip and Velcro.

[ScottyB]

I think you're all being way to hard on NASA. Afterall where would we be today without...well...lets see...how 'bout...um...TANG.

 

It tasted ok if you added Koolaid and sugar to it.

 

 

Besides, what the Russians saved on pens they spent on Vodka.

[Chris Rizzo]

I have carried the same Fisher Space Pen in my pocket for 5 years. They fold down into a very compact size, ALWAYS write, and have survied about 50 trips through my washing machine . I consider it an indespensible machinist's tool.

[Chris Rizzo]

quote:

---

The Russians used a pencil.

---

Yeah, but then what happens when your lead breaks in space?...................

 

Then I'm sure you'd take a space pen!

[Charles Davis]

Or when the graphite dust causes a short in an electrical circuit?

[Thad]

quote:

---

The Russians used a pencil.

---

Yeah, but you can't stick a pencil in a boiling pan of water and write with it like you can with a Fisher Space Pen.

 

Thanks cmr, I couldn't remember the exact name. Mine didn't "fold down" like yours does. It looked like a regular pen. I don't have it any more but I don't recall it being very smooth writing.

 

Thad