During 1960s the competition between National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) and Soviet Union Space Organization was on the
peak. There is a very interesting story in this context. NASA scientists
realized that the normal pens that are used on the Earth might not work properly
in space. So, they spent a decade and $12 billion trying to develop a pen that
could work in space. While Russians just used Pencil. Well it is just a story. But
there is lots of interesting fact related to the invention of SPACE PEN.
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Inaugural launch of space
shuttle Columbia, 1981
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While talking about this pen the very first question that
comes in our mind is why do we even need a pen in the space? The answer is to
take note of various parameters such as Temperature, Pressure and Variation in
the atmosphere etc. These things can be recorded using electronic machines also
but astronauts really prefer to write it down by themselves.
It is not that scientists only thought about pen. They tried
a lot of materials with which they can write in space but each of them has some
of the limitations. List of some of the materials that they try before SPACE
PEN:
Ø Wood Pencil: It was used by both NASA as well as Soviet
Union Space Program. Pencil consists of wood, graphite and rubber; all these
things are combustible and create dust. Graphite is very much combustible and
burns with a lot of dust and good conductor of electricity as well; so Wood
Pencil was not at all an option.
Ø Mechanical Pencil: It was
used by NASA during 1960s. Its width can be changed and has a very less weight.
There was no wood in this type of pencil but it does have graphite and that is
not suitable for the spaceship as well as the space station.
Ø Grease Pencil: It
was used by the Soviet Space Program as substitute to graphite and wood. In this
they used grease pencil to write on the plastic slate which consists of paper. The
paper should be peeled when needed. The problem is that paper should be
disposed of and it was also not as durable as ink on paper.
Ø Ballpoint Pens: It
was used by Soviet Union Space Program, NASA as well as ESA. These pens are
cheap and the written things are more permanent than any other previous
technique. The problem was the huge variation with respect to Temperature and
gas composition.
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Partial map of the surface of
the Moon with notations by astronaut Michael Collins made while in lunar orbit.
Written "Last Bst Pos Prior L/O" indicating the estimated position of
the lander.
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All these techniques had some of the limitations and thus
cannot be used in space without any risk and with best performance. The
solution for this problem was finally given by Fisher Space Pen Company. They come
up with the product name Space Pen or Zero Gravity pen. These pens were
invented by the American Industrialist and Pen Manufacturer Paul C. Fisher and
got the patent rights in 1965.
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Logo of Fisher Space Pen Company
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FEATURES:
Ø It could
write upside-down.
Ø It
could write even underwater or in other liquids.
Ø It
could write at any angle.
Ø It
could write in zero gravity.
Ø It
could write over wet and greasy paper.
Ø It
could write in a very wide range of temperatures.
Ø Uses
pressurized ink cartridges.
Ø It
could write at altitudes up to 3800 m.
Ø Estimated
life time of 100 years.
TECHNOLOGY USED IN SPACE PENS:
It is a kind of ballpoint pen made up of Tungsten Carbide
and is fitted very precisely to avoid leaks. It uses Thixotropic ink in
airtight and pressurized case which helps in writing three times more than the
normal ballpoint pen. The ink is forced by compressed Nitrogen gas (instead of
Gravity) at a pressure of 240 kPa. A sliding float separates the Nitrogen gas
and the ink. Compressed Nitrogen also prevents mixing of air and ink which
eliminates the chance of vaporization of ink.
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Design of Space Pen
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MODELS OF SPACE PENS:
There are two very famous models of Space Pens:
Ø AG7
Astronaut pen: retractable pen and its shape is very much similar to that of
common ballpoint pen.
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AG7 Astronaut Pen
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Ø Bullet
Pen: non-retractable pen and it is shorter than standard ballpoint pens.
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Bullet Pen
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Fisher Space Pen Company manufactured a wide range of Space
pens. Recently they introduce a newer pen called Shuttle Pen. It is used on
NASA’s space shuttle as well as Russian Space Station.
These pens are not just used for writing purpose. According
to Fisher Space Pen Company, the Astronauts of Apollo 11 used the Space Pen to
fix a broken arming switch which played a very important role in their return
to Earth.
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| Astronauts of Apollo 11 Mission Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. |
According to Fisher Space Pen Company they are providing space
pens to NASA as well as Soviet Space Program since 1968. NASA ordered 400 Space
pens for Apollo Program. They provide Space Pens to both of these organizations
on 40% discount.
If you are planning to buy a Space Pen then you can order it on Fisher Space Pen Company website, it will cost you only $50.
Author’s Bio:
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Prince Kumar is pursuing a degree in B-Tech in
electronics and communication engineering from VIT University. He has a keen
interest in latest developments in the field of communication engineering and a
strong passion for robotics and automobiles. His posts are easily available for
reference on his blog www.techieoasis.org. Find him on Facebook and Google.