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This is the Conversation Forum for Space Pens My Dad... >> Subject: The Russians used a pencil Posted Apr 28, 2003 by F F Churchton   Posting 1 Evidence how silly the Americans are? Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: The Russians used a pencil Posted May 7, 2003 by Fashion Cat This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 2 Well, normally I would agree. The americans did use pencils too. But then a lead broke, and nearly blinded an astronaut (as far as I've read anyways.) Hence the need for a pen that works in space. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: The Russians used a pencil Posted May 7, 2003 by NAITA (Join ViTAL - A1014625) This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 3 I doubt there was some single incident of a lead, hurting an astronaut, but broken leads and simply the debris you get when using a pencil is a bad thing to have floating around in an environment with no gravity. Have a look at http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.htm for some factual information on the issue. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: The Russians used a pencil Posted Feb 23, 2006 by Most Reverend prométhium This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 4 Won't the tip of a pencil be neither more or less dangerous than any other bit of equipment/food or anything else floating about? That is why pencils are probably the best bet. Anyway, bits break off pens. Read the First Reply to this Posting Subject: The Russians used a pencil Posted Jul 23, 2007 by NAITA (Join ViTAL - A1014625) This is a reply to this Posting   Posting 5 If bits are breaking off your pen you might consider a course in pen usage. Unless you mean bits break off when you fiddle with the pen, but I doubt that's a problem with astronauts. Conversation list Conversation list

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