What do you think of this?

Question

In the United States, NASA wanted to design a pen that could work well in outer space (because some pens can't write if they are tilted so the ink moves away from the writing point). They spent millions of dollars on research then ultimately designed such a pen.

Later, they learned that the Russians just used pencils instead.

Answer 1

well, moral of story is simplicity solves difficult problems. Same with this story. A factory that produces soap recieved a complain of a customer buying an empty soap box. They then hired someone to see that there are no empty soap boxes. Another factory met the same problem. They put an electronic fan by the track on which the boxes were and the fan would simply blow the empty boxes away. Life always teaches us so much.

Answer 2

I think its one of the more disgusting falsehoods people tell about NASA.

Quoted from wikipedia:

"There exists a common rumor claiming that because a standard ballpoint pen would not work in zero gravity (which is false [1]), NASA spent millions of dollars developing the zero-g capable Space Pen, with the humorous note that the Russian space agency opted to simply use pencils.[2] This has been debunked several times, with reasons such as the danger that a broken-off pencil tip poses in zero gravity and the high flammability of both the graphite and wood present in pencils. In fact NASA never approached Paul Fisher to develop a pen, nor did Fisher receive any government funding for the pen's development. Fisher himself invented it, and then asked NASA to try it. After the introduction of the AG7 Space Pen, both the American and Soviet (later Russian) space agencies adopted it. (Previously both the Russian and American astronauts used grease pencils and plastic slates.)"

Answer 3

That is an example often used to describe lateral thinking, creativity, out of box thinking etc.

Answer 4

Never underestimate the power of bureaucratic stupidity! :)

spanky--sorry, its a true story. And don't rely on Wikipedia unless you want to make a fool of yourself--it isn't a reliable source.

Answer 5

HA! HA! another reason to laugh at the geniuses who think that sh#t up! HA! HA!
Can it core A APPLE!

Answer 6

If it is true then;
Man must keep vision to use what ever he has got around him in any circumstances.

Answer 7

I think I saw "Space Cowboys" also.
Thanx for wasting our time.

Answer 8

thanks for the question..as i did not know this..but Pascal gave the best answer..this proves there is no such thing as a dumb question..thanks pal

Answer 9

so the moral of the story was... even NASA is not the best???

Answer 10

they just always want to one-up each other and this was one way to do it. i personally think those pens are really neat.