This story is brought to you by The Space Store, the online store of Astronomy magazine and a Firecrown Media brand.
The Fisher Space Pen, sometimes called a zero-gravity pen, uses a pressurized ink cartridge to function in zero gravity. With a precisely fitted ballpoint made from tungsten carbide, the Space Pen works underwater, on wet or greasy paper, and at extreme temperatures. This patented design, invented in the 1960s for use on space missions, is still in wide use today for a variety of professionals and hobby enthusiasts, and can be found today in multiple models and sizes.
What makes the Space Pen useful today?
The same features that make zero gravity pens useful in the extreme environments of space mean that the Space Pen is an excellent tool for any fieldwork.
- Compact and lightweight design: When closed, Bullet Space Pens are the perfect size to carry in your wallet, pocket, purse, car glove box, organizer, or toolbox. When opened they extend to a full sized, evenly balanced writing instrument. The “Bullet Style” design is 3.75” when closed and 5.25” when open, making it convenient for carrying and still balanced and easy to use when writing.
- Durable construction: The robust construction and precise tolerances of the Space Pen mean that the internals are sealed off from the elements. The pressurized ink cartridges that feed the applicator are capable of functioning at insane temperatures of –29 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (–34 to 121 degrees Celsius), so many outdoor enthusiasts and field researchers still rely on these pens today.
- Smooth and reliable writing quality: Any pen connoisseur knows that smooth writing is non-negotiable. Thanks to the design of its pressurized ink reservoirs, the Space Pen maintains consistent ink flow much longer than traditional pens.
The thixotropic visco-elastic ink is hermetically sealed and pressurized, and is forced out by compressed nitrogen at 310 kPa (45 psi). As a result, the Fisher Space Pen is capable of writing three times longer than a standard ballpoint pen and has an estimated shelf life of 100 years.
Connections to history
The story of the Space Pen’s inception is entwined with both the American and Soviet space programs. A commonly repeated myth surrounding the Fisher Space Pen is that NASA spent millions developing a pen that would write in space, while Soviet cosmonauts simply used pencils. In reality, NASA did investigate the technology, but quickly abandoned the idea due to cost.
In the early stages of the space race, both Soviet and American space programs used pencils. However, graphite dust and broken pencils posed major hazards to onboard electronics and led to inadequate record keeping while on missions.
Privately, Paul Fisher developed the technology for the Space Pen with his own resources, later selling 400 units to NASA in 1967. Soviet cosmonauts followed suit in 1969 with a similar pen design, potentially modeled after Fisher’s patent.
Aside from the practical utility, there’s always intangible value in using the gear and the tech that made history.
In 2008, the pen that Gene Cernan’s took to space sold at auction for $23,900. While the Apollo 17’s pens may not be obtainable today, you can check out an awesome selection of Fisher and NASA Space Pens at The Space Store and start carrying your own awesome piece of both writing and space history.
