My mind seems to have stretches of periods concentrating on certain things, then other brief or long moments turning over other subjects or areas. In the last few days it seems to be on novelties based on science. This would be the 3rd consecutive days I write about inventions.
In the 50's the American Paul Fisher came upon the fact that the common ballpoint pen depended on gravity to write. This limits much of it's function, and Fisher decided to develop one that's anti-gravity.
The cartridge of the ink of the space ballpoint pen has pressurised nitrogen that continuously pushes the ink towards the point of the pen. Fisher utilized thixotropic (gel changing into a fluid when stirred or shaken) ink, which is dense and viscose, sort of a bit sticky, so that it wouldn't escape from the pen, and the ink only comes out when pressure was applied.
So these new pens could write in just about any position and almost any surfaces, including on plastic, moist material, snow, even under water. The NASA was so impressed with the design that they decided to use it on their space missions, beginning with the Apollo 7 in 1968.
Over the years, on Christmas, birthday or for no reason at all, I have received gift of very expensive fountain pens, slim and elegant, with my name engraved, coated with gold or encrusted with tiny jewels, and presented in it's pretty velvet lined box but, after showing my gratitude, I have always used any humble ballpoint pens, while the precious ones keep each other company at the back of a drawer which, at this moment, I can't even remember which drawer it was.
Tags: space, ballpointpen
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