A pencil in space is a very bad idea. It will create floating graphite shards that are conductive and could short out critical equipment (as well as not being g

A pencil in space is a very bad idea. It will create floating graphite shards that are conductive and could short out critical equipment (as well as not being great health-wise). Actually, even though it is an urban legend, it is something I could see the USSR doing with their disregard for their astronauts' safety.