h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If not the tin can, perhaps the thermos flask?

If you had read A33659210 you would know that air tight food preservation was invented by Nicolas Appert.

(I know, cheap plugging )

He might have nicked the idea from Napoleon.

Very interesting article, by the way.

Ooh, . I don't usually this early in the day, but...

america through nasa spent millions on developing a pen that works in space, the russians used pencils

That's an urban legend, Taff. A pencil is a bad choice for use in space, because of the shavings and graphite dust, not to mention the dangers of a broken tip flying around in zero gravity.

Both Americans and Russians used pencils initially, though. And the pen that was eventually developed was funded privately by the company that sells it.

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

Good joke but not true.
Prior to 1967, there were no pens that worked in space so pencils were used, but there were concerns about pencil dust floating around the space capsules as well as fears that if the tip of a pencil broke off and drifted into the electronics, there would be problems.
Paul Fisher the founder of the Fisher pen company perfected a pen that was sealed with pressure inside of the cartridge that made the ink flow regardless of gravity. The company says it took Fisher about 2 years and $2 million to develop the space pen. NASA chose the pen in 1967 for use by Apollo astronauts.
In fact, both Americans and Russians use the space pen for their flights.

Sadly, that's an urban myth, Taff.

Pencils were used by both US and Russian early spaceships. The US decided to develop the pen because of the risk of having the point break off, and then fly around the spaceship, possibly causing a shortcircuit. Once the pens were developed they were also supplied to the Russians.

RF

multi -

RF

At least it shows that hootooers are ready and willing to stomp out urban legends wherever they rear their heads. Yay us.

what have you got to do round here to get a

Little is known that they were using these pens:

http://www.bernard.fr/App_Themes/ber-FR/images/product/FR_411432_1_enl.jpg

Which explains why they don't work on Earth with standard gravity.

Well obviously somebody musta realized that lead pencils would weigh too much anyway. And using a pencil sharpener in space might screw up the gyros.

peace
jwf

Chalk and blackboard, way to go.

Things are kicking off!!

I thought it was too obvious

hygenicdispenser- Post 40...No!, Err, No!, Yes!!..Post 41...Yes!..WHY!!

toybox Post 42....Appert used Champagne bottles....No use in going to the Moon!!


Post 53 Taff.....Mention the obvious, and I will willingly klaxon you!!!!!




GT

Going to the moon you need a rocket or something. So, who invented the first vehicle? Hmm......

So we've got a yes for fireworks and a "yes but why?" for the thermos. Is it just for the idea of sealing against a vacuum?

Neil Armstrong's missus packed him a flask for the trip. She said "Neil you know how a vacuum flask keeps hot things hot and cold things cold? Well I've got you some soup and a choc ice".