[tomtranter]

Nice! I love the simple approach like the story which I'm not sure if it's true or not that NASA spent $$$ developing an ink pen that would work in zero-g and the Russians used a pencil.

[sitkack]

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-write-stuff/

[rfdave]

That's an urban legend. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-n...

[Max-q]

The Russians used a simple, standard ballpoint pen, so the story is not true

[pkaye]

The Russians eventually ended up using the same pen that NASA did. It pen was developed by a private company and sold to both of them at $2.39/ea.

[vgivanovic]

Hmmm. What about the pencil shavings? Makes me wonder if the story is true.

[10u152]

Aerosolised conductive dust (carbon) is not something you want on a spaceship

[tomtranter]

Yeah I thought so but like most legends contains a kernel of truth and is certainly worth remembering for the lesson. Reminds me of the midwit meme https://www.ycombinator.com/library/IW-dalton-michael-elon-m...