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"... And mechanical pencils require gravity to feed the lead; a mechanical pencil that would work in micro-g is just as hard to develop as a ballpoint pen that

"... And mechanical pencils require gravity to feed the lead; a mechanical pencil that would work in micro-g is just as hard to develop as a ballpoint pen that will. ..." No, mechanical pencils with springs have no problems. All sorts of pencils/pens where used in the space program but the Fisher AG7 and patent # 3,285,228 ~ http://spacepen.com/about-us.aspx http://spacepen.com/about-us.aspx proved to be a good solution to the problems of FOD (foreign object damage), cost, availability, usability and fire. Fisher also invented the "Universal refill" for pens.

froo 18y ago
I guess the real question is... Has fisher innovated the technology behind the universal refill and the spacepen even further, or has it stayed pretty much where it is? This is a serious question by the way, I'd be keen to know what the answer is.
- bootload 18y ago
  "... Has fisher innovated the technology behind the universal refill and the spacepen even further, or has it stayed pretty much where it is? ..." From what I can tell from reading through fisher pens the only further innovation is styling not the basic design ~ http://spacepen.com/about-us.aspx http://spacepen.com/about-us.aspx The Space race really kicked innovation along for lots of things even the simple pen. The engineering is pretty extreme. Imagine building a pen that will work in high PT environments from -35 to 120 degrees C and life of about 100yrs for USD$6. ~ http://history.nasa.gov/spacepen.html http://history.nasa.gov/spacepen.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen This is the kind of advances great challenges produce. It's still happening now in the US and the one area I know basic research and innovation can be seen is the X-Prize. Think Bert Rutan ~ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3676312.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3676312.stm and Carmac ~ http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?news_id=359 http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?ne...
  - froo 18y ago
    Well then I guess that proves my initial first point of Sometimes innovating for the sake of innovating can be an exercise in futility if current solutions are adequate. It's a shame that I can't get those pen's shipped to Australia.. I'd be keen to get my hands on a couple. Must find another supplier.

froo 18y ago

I guess the real question is... Has fisher innovated the technology behind the universal refill and the spacepen even further, or has it stayed pretty much where it is? This is a serious question by the way, I'd be keen to know what the answer is.

bootload 18y ago
"... Has fisher innovated the technology behind the universal refill and the spacepen even further, or has it stayed pretty much where it is? ..." From what I can tell from reading through fisher pens the only further innovation is styling not the basic design ~ http://spacepen.com/about-us.aspx http://spacepen.com/about-us.aspx The Space race really kicked innovation along for lots of things even the simple pen. The engineering is pretty extreme. Imagine building a pen that will work in high PT environments from -35 to 120 degrees C and life of about 100yrs for USD$6. ~ http://history.nasa.gov/spacepen.html http://history.nasa.gov/spacepen.html & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen This is the kind of advances great challenges produce. It's still happening now in the US and the one area I know basic research and innovation can be seen is the X-Prize. Think Bert Rutan ~ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3676312.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3676312.stm and Carmac ~ http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?news_id=359 http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/n.x/Armadillo/Home/News?ne...
- froo 18y ago
  Well then I guess that proves my initial first point of Sometimes innovating for the sake of innovating can be an exercise in futility if current solutions are adequate. It's a shame that I can't get those pen's shipped to Australia.. I'd be keen to get my hands on a couple. Must find another supplier.