The NASA space pen myth is completely false

One of the internet's most persistent myths claims NASA spent $165 million and ten years developing a special pen that writes in zero gravity, while the Russians simply used pencils. The truth is far more interesting. When NASA first sent astronauts to space, both American and Soviet crews used pencils. In fact, NASA once ordered 34 mechanical pencils from a Houston manufacturer at $128.89 each, sparking public outrage over the cost. Pencils presented real problems in space: broken lead fragments could float into eyes or electronics, and wood and graphite are flammable hazards in a pure oxygen environment—a lesson learned tragically after the Apollo 1 fire. Enter Paul C. Fisher, who spent $1 million of his own company's money—not taxpayer dollars—to develop the pressurized Space Pen. Fisher's AG7 Anti-Gravity pen used a sealed, nitrogen-pressurized ink cartridge and special thixotropic ink that stays gel-like until friction liquefies it. NASA tested the pen extensively and approved it in 1967, purchasing 400 units at just $6 each. The Soviets also bought Fisher's Space Pens, starting with 100 pens and 1,000 ink cartridges in 1969. Both space programs eventually paid the same bulk price of $2.39 per pen. The pen became so successful it was used on every crewed NASA mission since Apollo 7 and even helped save Apollo 11 by fixing a broken switch. Today, you can buy your own Space Pen for around $50.