where can i buy a pen that works upside down or in the rain?

Answer 1

Hey Choon,

I am 99% sure of this answer. The answers regarding NASA are all correct 100%. But you asked for where you could buy the pen. The two companies that NASA invested the monies with both came out with pens that would work in any environment. They were:

Cross

Bic

Cross was deemed the winner, Bic tried pushing the new pen but since it was now in the public domain the folks over at Papermate made their own version.

So the three manufacturers are; Cross, Bic and Papermate. Whether they still make their "Any Environment" pens is anybody's guess.

So to join the rest of the chorus... Thought about a China marker...? Laundry Pen...? Fireman's marker...?

Hope I helped,

James in San Diego

Answer 2

When Nasa first started sending up astronauts, they discovered ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat the problem, Nasa scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300C. The Russians used a pencil.

Answer 3

Bit of trivia. The same question was posed to the U.S. space agency, NASA, which spent years and millions developing a space pen that is water proof and works at any angle, even without substantial gravity.

When faced with the same dilema, the Soviets gave their astronauts pencils.

NASA considered this, but was afraid that the graphite would short out electronics if it floated around. If memory serves me correct, NASA has had more accidents than the Soviets/Russians, who have continued to fly even while NASA grounds the shuttle fleet.

Buy a pencil, they work.

Answer 4

There used to be this thing called the SPACE PEN that worked upside down - not sure if it is waterproof, but that is half way to a solution!

Answer 5

You'd probably have to get a waterproof pen like the kind divers use. What sort of activities are you engaging in where you have to write upside down?

Answer 6

WHSMITH used to do a divers pen which works under water, in any pressure down to 2000ft and in non gravity spaces. It also works upside down, has three colours of ink and has a light on the end.

Answer 7

May I suggest the Fisher Space Pen - Titanium Y3K ??


http://www.menkind.co.uk/ProductDetailsHori.asp?ProductID=10277

Answer 8

They make astronaut pens. I've only seen them for sale at the air and space museum in DC, but you probably could find them somewhere on the internet.

Answer 9

'Spacepen'....I got one as a present once and it was really good, not sure if it writes in the rain, but it does upside down and in zero gravity!

Answer 10

I have pens that work well wherever and whenever they're used. Parker pens are pretty good all-rounders.