October 9, 2012 at 00:39Space handle
Although we have a digital age on the street, and the hub is dedicated to IT, but many still quite often have to write on paper - because I think that a pen can also be considered a gadget. :)
I think that many people remember the bike about how the Americans spent a million dollars on a pen for writing in zero gravity. True, few people know that, although the Russians wrote in pencils, after the invention of the pen, they bought hundreds of such from the Americans.
The technology itself, used in pens, is simple - ink is supplied under the pressure of the compressed gas located in the upper part of the rod.
They claim to work at temperatures from -35º to + 120º, under water, in zero gravity, at any angle.
In fact, to join the space technology, it is not necessary to buy a pen - you can just buy a rod and stick it into your Parker, for example - an adapter is included. But I decided to be consistent, and I liked the design of the pens, so I took a space pen. Immediately splurge on a “lifelong” pen, a toad bit me, so I bought a cheaper one - Bullet Space Pen. And the price is small, and I liked the design.
The pen goes in a small case, where, in addition to the pen, there is a flyer with history and the principle of operation.
The photo above is not mine, I already stuck my case somewhere. By the way, it was opaque, black.
But everything was designed well, because, I think, such a pen can be considered as one of the options for an ideal gift (when it is not clear what to give, but it is necessary to give).
In the “folded” state, the pen is small:
In the working position , a convenient length for writing (the cap is removed and put on the back of the pen, increasing its length):
In terms of use, a regular ballpoint pen, the diameter of the ball is from 0.9 mm (fine) to 1 , 3 mm (bold). Those who are accustomed to gel pens, the lines will appear thick (gel usually 0.5 mm ball diameter).
I didn’t check it in extreme conditions, because for a short time an ordinary pen can work in them, and to sit and write for several hours at -35 degrees under water in zero gravity - well, nafig. :)
A small video clip - a letter through different liquids:
An ordinary ballpoint pen does not write through water. Gel writes.
Bonus - it works like a capacitive stylus, and not one of the worst in terms of ease of use (as far as this applies to capacitive styluses :)). But the handle is still metal, because I often do not recommend using it in this quality, you can scratch the screen.
www.spacepen.com/bullet.aspx
Interesting design (folded often wondering “what do you have?”), many design options. My version is called Brushed Chrome.
www.spacepen.com/originalastronautmodels.aspx - the model that flew into space.
Their peculiarity is that they do not have a core, and the capacity for ink is the entire body of the pen. They say that ink should be enough for the whole life of the user (or to draw a line 30 miles long), and if not enough, they will refuel / replace for free. Review of MARS Space Pen:
Previous review: habrahabr.ru/post/92042 (but there the pictures died and there are no personal impressions - why did I decide to write my own). But there is a little more history.
www.spacepen.com is the site of a pen manufacturing and trading company. When buying a pen, you can order engraving. There is no delivery to Russia, therefore you must either buy on ebay or look for Russian sellers (but they have such markups that it’s better to ebay).
I think that many people remember the bike about how the Americans spent a million dollars on a pen for writing in zero gravity. True, few people know that, although the Russians wrote in pencils, after the invention of the pen, they bought hundreds of such from the Americans.
Theory
The technology itself, used in pens, is simple - ink is supplied under the pressure of the compressed gas located in the upper part of the rod.
They claim to work at temperatures from -35º to + 120º, under water, in zero gravity, at any angle.
Practice
In fact, to join the space technology, it is not necessary to buy a pen - you can just buy a rod and stick it into your Parker, for example - an adapter is included. But I decided to be consistent, and I liked the design of the pens, so I took a space pen. Immediately splurge on a “lifelong” pen, a toad bit me, so I bought a cheaper one - Bullet Space Pen. And the price is small, and I liked the design.
The pen goes in a small case, where, in addition to the pen, there is a flyer with history and the principle of operation.
The photo above is not mine, I already stuck my case somewhere. By the way, it was opaque, black.
But everything was designed well, because, I think, such a pen can be considered as one of the options for an ideal gift (when it is not clear what to give, but it is necessary to give).
In the “folded” state, the pen is small:
In the working position , a convenient length for writing (the cap is removed and put on the back of the pen, increasing its length):
In terms of use, a regular ballpoint pen, the diameter of the ball is from 0.9 mm (fine) to 1 , 3 mm (bold). Those who are accustomed to gel pens, the lines will appear thick (gel usually 0.5 mm ball diameter).
I didn’t check it in extreme conditions, because for a short time an ordinary pen can work in them, and to sit and write for several hours at -35 degrees under water in zero gravity - well, nafig. :)
A small video clip - a letter through different liquids:
An ordinary ballpoint pen does not write through water. Gel writes.
Bonus - it works like a capacitive stylus, and not one of the worst in terms of ease of use (as far as this applies to capacitive styluses :)). But the handle is still metal, because I often do not recommend using it in this quality, you can scratch the screen.
Noteworthy pens:
Bullet Space Pen Series
www.spacepen.com/bullet.aspx
Interesting design (folded often wondering “what do you have?”), many design options. My version is called Brushed Chrome.
AG7 - Original Astronaut Space Pen
www.spacepen.com/originalastronautmodels.aspx - the model that flew into space.
Infinium / Mars / Millenium Pens
Their peculiarity is that they do not have a core, and the capacity for ink is the entire body of the pen. They say that ink should be enough for the whole life of the user (or to draw a line 30 miles long), and if not enough, they will refuel / replace for free. Review of MARS Space Pen:
References
Previous review: habrahabr.ru/post/92042 (but there the pictures died and there are no personal impressions - why did I decide to write my own). But there is a little more history.
www.spacepen.com is the site of a pen manufacturing and trading company. When buying a pen, you can order engraving. There is no delivery to Russia, therefore you must either buy on ebay or look for Russian sellers (but they have such markups that it’s better to ebay).
