X-Message-Number: 21129
Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2003 13:48:29 -0500
From: Wesley Eddy <>
Subject: Re: cryonet #21109 "space pen"
References: <>

--IS0zKkzwUGydFO0o
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Disposition: inline

In Cryonet #21109, Philip Rhoades <> wrote:
> When NASA began the launch of astronauts into space, they found out that
> the pens wouldn't work at zero gravity. (Ink won't flow down to the
> writing surface).
>
> In order to solve this problem, they hired Andersen Consulting
> (Accenture today).
>
> It took them one decade and 12 million dollars.
>
> They developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, under
> water, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature
> range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C.
>
> The Russians used a pencil....

It's a little off topic, but this anecdote is not only not true, but
it's a very well known urban legend.  Please check your sources before
presenting things as fact.  I'm sure it was an honest mistake.

This link provides some debunking information:
http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.htm

-Wes

--IS0zKkzwUGydFO0o
Content-Type: application/pgp-signature
Content-Disposition: inline

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.0.4 (SunOS)
Comment: For info see http://www.gnupg.org

iD8DBQE+SUV7zBuYqbnj3IwRAnElAJ9b0w0NLDYomIJscttuUTN7iUSo2gCghwZ1
SrgiIyLV6k3sJdz+osVgpZ4=
=Oujx
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

--IS0zKkzwUGydFO0o--

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=21129