THIS is the pen that saved Aldrin and Armstrong from being marooned on the moon

[derby378]

This is the original Fisher Space Pen that was used on the Apollo 7 space mission in 1968 after 2 years of testing by NASA and has been used on all manned space flights since then.

The design and construction of this pen has not changed in 36 years. The pen you buy today is exactly the same as the one taken to the moon in 1969. It is a heavy pen and the weight rests reassuringly in your hand as you write. The AG7 is made from solid brass with an extremely hard Chrome plating. It has a very positive and substantial feeling click mechanism. You press down on the top to extend the refill and press the side button to retract the refill. It's special design assures you that you'll always retract the point before you slide it in your pocket. It's constructed of all brass and steel components of the highest quality and is made in the USA.

http://www.spacepen.com/originalastronautspacepen.aspx

And, according to Buzz Aldrin, this is the pen they used on the Apollo 11 LEM to toggle that broken switch and thus blast off from the moon and reunite with Michael Collins for the long journey home.

I'm definitely buying one next month. I've always loved Fisher pens.

[ThoughtCriminal]

1. My favorite pen

actually pens - I have 3 of them. Most reliable pen I've owned.

[csziggy]

2. They don't come right out and say it but I think the factory is still in Boulder City, Nevada

Where they moved in 1976.

[armyowalgreens]

3. For only $800 you can get the LE 40th anniversary space pen...

http://www.spacepen.com/astronautspacepenwithengraving-1-1.aspx

:crazy:

[Oeditpus Rex]

4. The old joke:

NASA spent $2 million to develop a pen for the astronauts that would write in zero gravity.









The Russians used pencils.

[conscious evolution]

5. LOL! L haven't heard that one in years.

I must say that that is a good pen,though.I had one years ago and really liked it.The best part was that it did not leak ink if I put it in my pocket upside down.

[derby378]

7. I heard that, too...

One of the old Soviet admirals is quoted as saying "Better is the enemy of good enough," which doesn't sit well with a lot of Americans but does have a certain practicality in military circles.

[SidneyCarton]

9. In most cases I would agree with the Admiral...

But considering what the Soviet Military considered acceptable losses in combat, one wonders at their definition of "good enough"

[Captain Hilts]

11. They built an aircraft carrier without a working toilet. 'Nuff said. nt

[TheMightyFavog]

8. You do NOT want to use pencils in microgravity.

Particularly if the lead breaks and the astronaut is unable to find the piece. If that little hunk of graphite gets in the wrong places, bad things can happen.

[Blue_Tires]

13. lol...i remember that

i remember the pen, too...a friend of my father's gave me one when i was a kid in the 80s...now i see it was just a cheap knockoff...

[LeftinOH]

6. You like this pen? Take the pen!

[Ex Lurker]

14. beat me to it n/t

[Captain Hilts]

10. I have one, somewhere. The 'ink' is kinda weird. nt

[derby378]

12. It's a thixotropic rollerball ink

A lot of Pilot and Uniball pens use a similar type of ink nowadays, but I don't think it's nearly as pressurized.