tube technology and EMP

[Kurt Weber]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org
> [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]On Behalf Of Kapteyn, Rob
> Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 6:08 PM
> To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
> Subject: RE: tube technology and EMP

> "One of the first big problems of manned space flight was that
> ball-point pens
> would not work reliably in zero gravity.
> NASA started a huge research project and after more than a year
> the 'space pen'
> was developed.
> This was a ball point pen that could write upside down and in
> zero gravity.
>
> (BTW: These pens were sold to the public and widely advertised
> when I was a kid)
>
> The russian cosmonauts, on the other hand, simply used a pencil :-)
>

Except pencils are a really bad idea in space.  They tend to release
particles that can be breathed in or clog the air circulation/filtration
systems, etc.

Kurt Weber
kmw at armory.com