NASA modified these pens for use in the space program. The 208 model was the same as the 207, except it wrote in black ink. The 207 model was similar to the 204, except the retraction button had been moved to the side. It was used on Skylab and the Apollo missions. The 204 had blue ink and a retraction button on the end. NASA purchased three different models: the 204, 207, and 208. Media reports indicate that approximately 400 pens were purchased from Fisher at $6 per unit for Project Apollo (today, the price tag of the original Anti-Gravity AG7 Original Astronaut Space Pen is $60).
In 1967, after rigorous tests, NASA managers agreed to equip the Apollo astronauts with these pens. The company spent reportedly $1 million from its own funds, then patented its product and cornered the market as a result.įisher offered the pens to NASA in 1965, but, because of the earlier controversy, the agency was hesitant in its approach. It can also write any angle on almost any surface.Īnd here is the point: Fisher developed his space pen with no NASA funding, nor was he contracted with the space agency. His new pen, with a pressurized ink cartridge, functioned in a weightless environment, in the vacuum, underwater, in other liquids, and in temperature extremes ranging from -50 ☏ (-45.5 ☌) to +400 ☏ (204 ☌) (See notes 1). He experimented for a few years, reportedly invested about 1 million dollars, and made his first “Anti-Gravity” pen – the AG7, which he patented in 1966. designed a ballpoint pen that would operate better in the unique environment of space. Fisher (Octo– October 20, 2006) of the Fisher Pen Co. Image: NASAĭuring this time period, the American inventor and politician Paul C. NASA astronaut Rex Walheim, an STS-135 mission specialist, is pictured on the flight deck of the space shuttle Atlantis during the mission’s fourth day of activities in Earth orbit and second day while being docked with the International Space Station. Wood shavings and graphite from normal pencils, and also ink from normal pens can float around and create debris.There was also a risk of fire due to the wood or wood particles that are used in these pencils. The graphite also had a tendency to cause explosions or a fire in the oxygen-rich atmosphere of a spacecraft, due to the graphite particles.The graphite present in the pencils was prone to cause a disturbance in the electrical conduction of the intricately designed systems.Some of these threats to using a pencil in a microgravity environment are: microgravity conditions), both NASA and the Soviets were looking for an alternative to it. What’s more, as the pencil posed many threats in space (i.e. NASA backtracked immediately and equipped the astronauts with less costly items. That created something of a controversy at the time, as many people believed it was a frivolous expense. The fixed price contract purchased 34 units at a total cost of $4,382.50, or $128.89 per unit. They were standard mechanical pencils with extra nylon wrapping and Velcro end. For Project Gemini, for example, NASA ordered mechanical pencils in 1965 from Tycam Engineering Manufacturing, Inc., in Houston. In fact, in the early years of the space race, both NASA astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts were using pencils. I would recommend you subscribe to Curious Droid’s channel if you haven’t already. They are also good for doing the crossword in bed!įisher produces several ranges of space pens the renowned 'AG-7 Astronaut' pen, the slighter, retractable 'Shuttle' range and the iconic 'Bullet' space pen, which, has been awarded many design awards and displayed in the Museum of Modern Art.Video can’t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: NASA's Million Dollar Space Pen vs The Soviet Pencils () The “story” of NASA’s “million-dollar space pen” by Curious Droid Fisher pens are capable of writing at extreme temperatures from -35 to 121 Celsius. The refill uses a thixotropic ink which remains solid until 'stirred' by the ball point, a nitrogen gas plug ensures a steady flow of ink at any angle, hence, the pen is not reliant on gravity to draw the ink from the pen.įisher space pens write on glossy surface such as plastics and coated papers, they even write through grease and underwater. The AG-7 'Astronaut' space pen was first used on the Apollo 7 mission, is the only pen that has been to the moon, and is still used today by all American, Russian, European and International Space projects.įisher produces a range of space pens all built around the Fisher pressurised refill.
The Fisher Space Pen is 'the space pen' the only pen ever to be used in space.
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