Space pen: Difference between revisions
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The Russian space program had the same problem. They sent their cosmonauts into space with pencils. | The Russian space program had the same problem. They sent their cosmonauts into space with pencils. | ||
===Errata=== | |||
The story is only partly true, and the reasons for it far more | The story is only partly true — or false, if you take the [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-write-stuff/ Snopes] categorisation — and the reasons for the bits that are right it far more subtle. | ||
It ''had'' occurred to NASA to use pencils: indeed it had used pencils on all missions up to Apollo 7. However the graphite in pencil lead has a habit of flaking, which presented some respiratory risks and could potentially interfere with instruments. Also, after the Apollo 1 fire, which killed three astronauts on the launch pad, NASA was interested removing flammable objects — like wooden pencils — from the cockpit. | It ''had'' occurred to NASA to use pencils: indeed it had used pencils on all missions up to Apollo 7. However the graphite in pencil lead has a habit of flaking, which presented some respiratory risks and could potentially interfere with instruments. Also, after the Apollo 1 fire, which killed three astronauts on the launch pad, NASA was interested removing flammable objects — like wooden pencils — from the cockpit. | ||
''But still''. | |||
{{Sa}} | {{Sa}} | ||
*The redoubtable [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-write-stuff/ Snopes] account of this “urban legend” | |||
*[[Reg technology]] | *[[Reg technology]] | ||
*[[Good luck, Mr. Gorsky]] | *[[Good luck, Mr. Gorsky]] | ||
{{C|Amusing but apocryphal stories about space flight}} | {{C|Amusing but apocryphal stories about space flight}} | ||
{{Ref}} |