Reporter: Merdeka
Astronaut illustration. ©2012 Shutterstock/lculig
Merdeka.com – NASA astronauts in space reportedly use a special pen worth tens of billions rupiah, because ordinary pens cannot be used in space. So, why didn’t NASA just use a pencil?
That said, before this special pen was designed by NASA, an astronaut from Russia had the idea to use a pencil in space so that the ink would not be affected by the presence of gravity.
Indeed, NASA astronauts used to use pencils in space. Previously, NASA also had a project to research the viability of using a pen in space, but it was immediately canceled due to a soaring budget.
To that end, the pen now used by NASA was designed by another private company, the Fisher Space Pen. The company first released its ballpoint pen in 1960, which was later used by astronauts.
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Could injure astronauts
Then, why does NASA have to use a special pen whose research costs are not economical?
Reported by Science Alert, Friday (9/6), when astronauts are in space, there are several objects that should be avoided floating carelessly around them, one of which is the result of pencil shavings and broken pencil contents.
Both of these objects can pose a risk of danger which, if left unchecked, can injure astronauts, damage engine components, and cause a fire.
The issue of fire safety is NASA’s top priority, especially after the fire that killed the entire crew of the Apollo 1 mission in 1967.
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Pens can also leak
Even pens can be dangerous in space, especially when the ink spreads everywhere. The first ballpoint pen designed by the Fisher Pen Company allegedly leaked everywhere.
Therefore, astronauts also use several other space pens, such as those produced by the Duro Pen Company.
Some of these space pens use pressurized ink that can be used in a variety of conditions and room temperatures.
Clayton Anderson, a NASA astronaut, said pens are typically used to “write numerical values to execute cabin crew procedures.”
Although these pens can also be damaged, the sophistication of the International Space Station cabin will also be able to filter substances that are harmful to astronauts.
Intern Reporter: Qaulan Maruf Indra [pan]
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2023-06-10 01:14:00
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