Space Pen...An Out of this World Invention!

Discover how the Fisher Space Pens (also known as the Zero Gravity Pen) are manufactured. They are pens that uses pressurised ink cartridges and are claimed to write in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, over wet and greasy paper, at any angle, and in extreme temperature ranges.

[@Spaceguy5]

Actually, our astronauts still use mechanical pencils (Made by Skilcraft with thicker .9mm lead--thicker meaning harder to break) on the space station. Pencils (from different manufacturers) were also used on all US manned spacecraft. Really, it's the astronaut's preference on using a pen or a pencil, but most choose pencils since you can correct mistakes.

[@clarinetchum]

I got one of these for christmas. and it is still writing strong!

[@timlipinski2571]

Did the mod on the Zebra F-701 with the Space Pen ink refill ! Now one hand operation and more confortable. Now part of my EDC and "The Pen is mightier than the Sword". Great video ! Eyes UP and lights down, tjl Sent by Win7Pro64 w/ADSL

[@rbrtck]

There are so many misconceptions surrounding this issue, it's ridiculous. First of all, in reality most writing instruments work reasonably well in orbit on board spacecraft, including regular ballpoint pens (at least modern ones), which depend much more on capillary action and/or the slight suction of using up ink than gravity to function. The reason they can't write upside-down while on Earth is that gravity is working against them, but in the neutral "microgravity" (free fall) environment of orbit, they usually work alright, as astronaut Pedro Duque attests (and many others have found). What's special about Fisher's space pens (at least many models, including the AG7) is that they're more reliable and robust under more conditions than anything else. Pencils work fine but break far more easily--either through writing or bumping into things--and can present a hazard, grease pencils are a bit messy and clumsy (but have their uses), and regular ballpoints and probably felt-tip markers can only be used inside a controlled environment. The all-metal space pen, however, can be used even outside of the spacecraft (they were taken down to the surface of the Moon during the Apollo landings) under extreme conditions--try that with a regular ballpoint (won't work reliably in a vacuum and the plastic parts might soften under high temperatures). Other pens can be and are used in space, but for a reasonable cost the space pen is the best and most dependable option. It's like choosing a rugged flashlight for police use--a cheap, generic $5 flashlight would probably do just fine most of the time, but while on duty wouldn't a police officer want something better, just in case? The same principle applies to the space pen, and some astronauts use them by choice while others choose not to (since they're probably only used inside spacecraft these days anyway).

[@Moonbeam143]

I love my Space Pen. I use it as much as I can.

[@richardmg9]

2 reasons, graphite and wood are flammable and its best to minimize anything flammable, especially during the Apollo program when the air in a capsule was mostly oxygen. The other issue is that graphite dust gets everywhere.

[@theclashrock09]

Why is the discovery channel logo covered up by a UK Flag, you can still see the logo if you look hard enough, plus the person was writing Discovery Channel on a piece of paper in this video!

[@azntranc3951]

cool, I see these pens at my local stationary store...they seemed expensive at the time. a pencil will suffice for me now lol

[@xXxANIMExROCKERxXx]

"Which is why those of you who spent your lives on Earth, can't write upside down either." Challenge Accepted!

[@ezthegreat42]

that was EPIC!

[@spudd86]

@Landrew0 NASA didn't ask for the pen, Fischer just decided to make them. NASA went with the 'just use a pencil'

[@oliverlane9716]

in zero gravity if you break the "lead" (graphite) on the end of a pencil it'll float away and can get stuck in instruments.

[@bryce995]

i like how the ball is made of armor piercing stuff and its called a bullet pen

[@Principalies]

"It's cold outside. There's no kind of atmosphere." -Red Dwarf!!!!

[@sgtpepper1138]

@Principalies Haha, I love how Robert's doing the voice over. loved him on Junkyard Wars/Scrapheap Challenge.

[@RepublicCommando29videos]

I've got a chrome bullet pen from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

[@BatteryAddicted]

I use this in my Parker Jotter.

[@spudd86]

@Lars1540 NASA was actually using pencils quite happily until Fisher came along and said "Hey we made this pen, we thought you might like it"

[@chas766]

@fountainpenuser I started off with the bullet pen and now own a millenium II lifetime pen. It's nice to have a pen that without fail will write when you need it. I give them as gifts and always people love them.

[@disaidra]

it's cold outside, there's no kind of atmosphere lol, nice reference

[@Pyroboy122]

your vids are awsome! 5/5

[@user-gu1gm7os2v]

amazing

[@SenorGalahad]

@Jonisfilm Pencils create graphite dust which is potentially catastrophic in a zero gravity, completely electronic envitroment, like a spaceship.

[@manoman0]

I love your vids

[@ToxicAapple]

oooo I want one of them pens.

[@MQnoob]

I want one!

[@Landrew0]

This pen cost millions to develop for the space program. A schoolchild wrote them a letter I believe, asking why they couldn't use a pencil?

[@Spaceguy5]

Not really. Mechanical pencils are used. Though, they use .9mm lead to make the tips harder to break off.

[@Xyleryx]

i almost bought one mistaking it for a regular pen cause it didn't come in a fancy pakage like this one and it was black like any other pen. when the cashier swipped it, it was $20! i felt like i got pwned by the store.

[@kirklanddavis]

will the refill fit in other pens?

[@FawfulDied]

It will fit in most pens that take Parker ballpoint refills

[@kirklanddavis]

@@FawfulDied damn bud got the all time longest reply award. That was from a decade ago.

[@richardmg9]

It's not so much the issue of the tip breaking off, as it is that graphite dust gets everywhere.

[@mm-os5yj]

Extreme journalism

[@Crazyking29]

As said by @gadetman147 , a pencil will break and sebsequently spoiled the machines. But isnt it cheaper to make a pencil casing ?

[@XxJamieOvertonxX]

i want the sheets with all the circles on them. O_o

[@vietrumpet123]

The graphite is combustible and easily ships. And even a tiny chipped piece of graphite floating around on a space station can be extremely dangerous.

[@appolity]

I have this pen!

[@fuadali16]

@Figila001 yes

[@MadCowsGaming]

@gadgetman147 they did a grease pencil check wikipedia...

[@UNDEADgamer1O1]

I have a 50 Caliber Bullet Fisher Space Space

[@Kanashto]

Pencil ftw

[@alternative10000]

@ptrix the amount of lead in pencils nowadays is too little to worry about.

[@spudd86]

@Hotrap86 so did NASA until Fisher decided to make a pen for them without even being asked

[@InteliGear]

Paul Fisher actually filed for patent in 1965 for the AG-7. I made a documentary / history and review about the space pen on my channel that clears up some of the urban legends and misinformation. Hope you like it. Be Well Friend... InteliGear.

[@viendiesel13]

i lolēd so hard :D

[@MartKencuda]

I'm glad they had Dave Mustaine do the soundtrack.

[@CiseDj]

NASA and Russia both used pencils.. And for the case it did not work perfectly for them. Pencils could break and shards could become a hazard, and could burn up in the 100% oxygen atmosphere. NASA did not produce the pressurized pen. Paul Fisher was the one to invent the pen and did as an independent job for the space community.

[@Gallski7]

2 people wish they had space pens....

[@SW-2010]

Pencils have allot of problems in space. The Russians also use the space pen.

[@MrDip02]

@starscreamthe7th yes it took alot to PRODUCE but not to research -_-

[@lyallsf]

The Russians stopped using pencils when the Fisher space pen became available.

[@nahian1991]

why dot you use just a pencil?

[@mcgrimes]

you buy refills, like those parker pens

[@MrDip02]

@starscreamthe7th oh i learned that NASA spent 0$ a private company spent approx 1.5 million to make them

[@lewiszim]

What if you need to sign a contract?

[@zagyex]

You could use a marker...

[@Jetgui22]

But will it blend?...

[@spudd86]

@alternative10000 that would be zero lead, it's all graphite

[@ptrix]

it is NOT recommended to use pencils in space, because as you write, tiny particles of the pencil's graphite (the "lead") will float away and could be inhaled or possibly contaminate surfaces which must remain uncontaminated. ALSO, there's the problem of sharpening them, for that reason too, and also because the shavings could present a possible hazard to equipment. it's cost effective to 'go Russian' (spend the least amount of money possible), but we're talking about SPACE, not a high school.

[@ScorpiXeleveN]

@gz12345 500,000 in 1960 or whenever this was first made is a hell of a lot in terms of money nowadays.

[@kojichao7096]

Space pen ink == Flubber ??

[@richardmg9]

Just an FYI, the spacepen was not developed with money from NASA. It was an independent venture. NASA buys them for 50 bucks just like you can.

[@christortoriello8550]

we spent millions of dollars trying to make a space pen while the russians just used pencils

[@noal900]

@starscreamthe7th the russians used pencils that took millions of dollars to produce. it wouldnt work iin the heat

[@spudd86]

@thuliocavalcante it is the British way.[/sam eagle]

[@jingjong12]

Because pencils are messy and dangerous in a pure oxygen environment. Imagine what a mess it would make if you tried sharpening a pencil or erasing your writing in zero gravity.

[@Kanashto]

ur comment made my day :p

[@sarahpaquette178]

Pencils do not have the same lasting effects that pens have.

[@Hotrap86]

russians solved the "gravity vs pen " problem decades ago, they just used a pencil instead.

[@Feifeizhang001]

pencils don't cost $20and they can write up to 40 km not 3

[@Gigasaur1]

is this the British form of "How its made"?

[@thuliocavalcante]

"pay-ten-ted"... cool pronunciation...

[@MrDip02]

@starscreamthe7th well then that's all you had to say -__- why would you say research if you mean something else -_-

[@garthdude27]

American's made a pen, Russian's used a pencil. THE END -_-

[@jetblack297]

0:23 nice legs

[@InteliGear]

Actually the fisher pen company used its own money and the U.S.S.R. bought a number of the pens and refills from Fisher. Check out my documentary for more detailed info. Be Well Friend... InteliGear.

[@serpentphoenix]

the soviets weren't advanced enough to build the space pen.

[@Ryen3D]

Why use a space pen?! PENCIL FTW!!!!!!!!

[@JoeMonhoe]

I know it's been ten years, and you probably know now but the graphite from the pencil is dangerous, even particles from writing can be inhaled, contaminate and damage equipment

[@Ryen3D]

@@JoeMonhoe 10 years ago i was 16, but I did learn that later on :D

[@Jonisfilm]

omg, i made that comment a year ago, ive gotten at least 10 comments like yours since then, its okay i get it thx bye ;)

[@fromfin90]

people complain, russian pencils have one drawback, you have to sharpen it, and you get that crap everywhere where you do not want it, so no,

[@1ohtaf1]

@lostguru585 You do realise Americans used grease and mechanical pencils and after the Fisher Space Pen was created the Soviet Union, and later russia bought bucket loads of it.

[@LeClaw]

thumbs up if you spotted the Red Dwarf reference ;)

[@gadgetman147]

It was stupid bringing pencils because if the end broke off ( inevitable) it would fly off and damage very important equipment (this was for all those people who keep saying about russia using pencils).

[@vassilisgr1972]

@ptrix but just that is the difference of philosophy. russians made a simple thought while americans got driven away. as for particles and contamination you just have to use a soft pen not a hard one! anyway it's trully obvious that americans seek the hard road that's why they are left behind...

[@UNDEADgamer1O1]

Right HAHAHAHAHA

[@MrDip02]

@starscreamthe7th its common sense would you spend millions of dollars to research a plant or animal or mechanistic NO is the materials and the mass production that cost the money that's like having to pay thousands of dollars every day just to use your head

[@flashdamingo]

I agree with what you say , however , the conversation seems to be always about how nasa spent billions etc on a pen and Russians used a pencil. Some idiot always brings this up without fail. I havent looked yet - but I'd bet someone brings this up each and every space pen video.

[@ataraxic89]

@dafranx You have to understand NASA's purpose. It was never meant to be the long term solution to space flight because it costs too much. So america has used NASA as a kind of "space experiment" to determine the best stuff for all the different jobs in space, from rockets to pens. Now this idea has bore fruit, look how america is the ONLY country in the world with companies about to enter space commercially. The private sector will outpace any other countys willingness to spend their own money.

[@VillainTricks]

But shortly after the space pen was invented the russians switched to it.

[@cj5880]

Hes wrong it was made in 1967 it says on the package of the pen

[@MrDip02]

@starscreamthe7th it takes no money create but to mass produce and even then its not millions -_- and look what prtix its stupid to use a pencil in space

[@campergirl1151]

the Russians just used a pencil.....

[@andreas4010]

graphite from the tip might cause a short circuit, nasa actually values human life and doesn't think of astronauts as a disposable resource

[@kalpazanov]

guy, this is a wrong misconception. The actual fact is that for the whole history of space flight Russians have 4 in flight and 4 during traning and preparation casualties. NASA on the other hand has 14 casualties in flight and 9 during traning and preparation. Only in training and preparation NASA have lost more people than the whole Russian space program.

[@andreas4010]

Nikola Kalpazanov true but i will point out that the russians use the space pen now days also after a quick research, the russians had several incidents and a smaller crew than the us, also of those 14 casualties, most of them were from the space shuttle at the time when russia sent fewer space missions, also many space incidents go unreported in russia

[@kalpazanov]

quote: "Also not included are alleged unreported Soviet space accidents, which are considered FRINGE theories by a majority of historians."

[@andreas4010]

Nikola Kalpazanov yeah i noticed, could;t be bothered to rectify my previous comment my bad

[@holovriak]

купилручку в Черновцах пишут гарантия 100лет а писала 2 месеца пашол в магазин ани пиминяли зарят пописала ищо 3 месеца кому жаловатса

[@Jonisfilm]

...why not use a pencil?

[@TheHyperOne90]

couldnt you just use a pencil???

[@JoeMonhoe]

it's been a decade but I just want to cause it's the internet, it's just dangerous to use pencil

[@blueduderanch]

why not just use a pencil!!

[@gunshooter26]

plus i dont think its good for your lungs... plus it wouldnt feel good in the eye

[@flashdamingo]

Seinfeld has a lot to answer for . totally ruined space pens .

[@blueduderanch]

thats utter rubbish. they have so many more things floating around the shuttle to be worried about dust from the pencil! they have water droplets all over the place and food debrie. dont come up with rubbish reasons.

[@THENUTSBIGDIRTYBASEMENT]

Or ya know... USE A PENCIL!

[@nickrulercreator]

+Zatcho Atcho actually, they would cost more because of how many would have to be shipped, and they break easily. These pens can cost less than pencils in the long run, so they're used instead of pencils.

[@kalpazanov]

Zatcho, The Russians did use pencils. And Nick's argument is pointless, as those years the average duration of a spaceflight was shorter than the lifespan of a simple pencil.