Space Pen

Introduction:

The Space Pen (also known as the Zero Gravity Pen) , is a pen that uses pressurized ink cartridges and

is able to write in zero gravity, underwater, over wet and greasy paper, at any angle, and in a very wide

range of temperatures.

Who invented and when:

The Space Pen was invented by American industrialist and pen manufacturer Paul C. Fisher and is

manufactured in Boulder City, Nevada, United States of America. Paul C. Fisher first patented the AG7

"anti gravity" pen in 1965.

Why it was invented:

According to aerospace lore, in the 1960s NASA realized pens could not write in space due to

decreased gravity. Since astronauts needed a way to jot down information, NASA invested years and

millions of dollars into developing a pen that could write under extreme conditions, such as those in

space. However, on the other side of the globe, the Russians figured out they could just use pencils.

When astronauts began to fly they used ordinary pencils. The lead of these pencils could easily brake off causing

dangerous situations when they floated around in the gravity-less space cabin. A safer and more reliable writing instrument

was needed, the Fisher Space Pen. More than one million dollars went into the development of the Fisher Space Pen and in

1965 Paul Fisher successfully developed the first pressurized Fisher Space Pens. Get your own Fisher Space Pen today.

Technology behind it and its working

The space pen works in numerous conditions: upside down, from -50oF to 400oF, in a vacuum,

and underwater. The pen’s unique design allows for this versatility. Pressurized nitrogen – 35 pounds per

square inch of it – is used to push the ink forward. The pressurized nitrogen also prevents the air and ink

from mixing within the pen so that the ink does not evaporate before use. When the ballpoint moves, the

gelatinous ink within the pen becomes liquid.