c**l
发帖数: 324 | 1 When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that
ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA
scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in
zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass
and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300°C.
The Russians used a pencil. | g**s
发帖数: 298 | 2 Analysis: This story perfectly illustrates the perils of government waste;
pity it's not quite true. NASA didn't have $12 billion to spend on anything
when it first started sending astronauts into space in the early 1960s. The
agency's entire budget for the 1960 was $500 million; by 1965, it was up to
$5.2 billion, still not enough to throw away $12 billion reinventing the
ballpoint pen.
Be that as it may, beginning with the Apollo program astronauts did begin
using a specially-designed zero-gravity pen called the Fisher Space Pen. The
nitrogen-pressurized space pen worked in "freezing cold, desert heat,
underwater and upside down," as well as in the weightless conditions of
outer space.
It was developed not by NASA, however, but by one enterprising individual,
Paul C. Fisher, owner of the Fisher Space Pen Company. By his own account,
Fisher spent "thousands of hours and millions of dollars" of his own money
in research and development — not billions.
The Fisher Space Pen is still used by both American and Russian astronauts
on every space flight, and you can even buy one yourself direct from the
company for a measly 50 bucks. | s****s
发帖数: 2163 | 3 This is the fake (but widely known) story.
我记得读过一篇文章，说美苏一开始都用PENCIL， 但是细小的铅芯粉末对精密仪器造
成了很大的破坏。后来是一个公司（私人的，好像是我记不清了）研发了特别的笔，然
后NASA大概用了几十美元或者上百美元的价格买了一批。
that
glass
【在 c**l 的大作中提到】
: When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that
: ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, NASA
: scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in
: zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass
: and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300°C.
: The Russians used a pencil.
| c**l
发帖数: 324 | 4
haha, it's a joke instead of story <..>
【在 s****s 的大作中提到】
: This is the fake (but widely known) story.
: 我记得读过一篇文章，说美苏一开始都用PENCIL， 但是细小的铅芯粉末对精密仪器造
: 成了很大的破坏。后来是一个公司（私人的，好像是我记不清了）研发了特别的笔，然
: 后NASA大概用了几十美元或者上百美元的价格买了一批。
:
: that
: glass
| d****2
发帖数: 6250 | |
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