Is Technology Really Progress?

[englishoak]

Case for technology: 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.

Case Against: The Russians used a pencil.

Edited September 27, 2006 by englishoak

[suegha]

I do like this one, however, it's an uban myth! Sorry to be a killjoy. They could not use pencils as the 'chips' of lead in zero gravity would cause all sorts of problems, getting into people's eyes, lodging in equipment etc. Fact is, that biros do work in zero gravity. Sorry!

[Kalavo]

Actually you're both wrong.

http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

[suegha]

Actually you're both wrong.

http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

Er, no, I agree with your link, I just didn't post the amount of detail!