Top Hoaxes Of All Time!!!

Originally posted by greatlakes

...During the space race back in the 1960's, NASA was faced with a major problem. The astronaut needed a pen that would write in the vacuum of space. NASA went to work. At a cost of $1.5 million they developed the "Astronaut Pen". Some of you may remember. It enjoyed minor success on the commercial market.

The Russians were faced with the same dilemma.

They used a pencil.


[edit on 7/2/2007 by greatlakes]

That is a hoax, as you mentioned.

NASA did not spend a penny, and NASA did not develop the pen. The pen was developed by the company, and gave it free to NASA in exchange for the publicity it generated.

A pencil does not work. The fine graphite powder produced by writing with a pencil floats in the zero gravity, and floating graphite powder does really nasty things to electronics, as well as being an explosive hazard in 100% oxygen. Several Russian space mission failures were believed to have been caused by graphite from the pencils.