History of the Space Pen In the 1950's there were dozens of ballpoint models and nearly every one took a different cartridge. In 1953 Fisher invented the Universal Refill" which could be used in most pens. It was a good seller since stationery store owners could reduce their stock of assorted refills. Not content Fisher continued to work on making a better refill. After much experimentation he perfected a refill using thixotropic ink-semisolid until the shearing action of the rolling ball liquefied it-that would flow only when needed. The cartridge was pressurized with nitrogen so that it didn't rely on gravity to make it work. It was dependable in freezing cold and desert heat. It could also write underwater and upside down. The trick was to have the ink flow when you wanted it to and not to flow the rest of the time a problem Fisher solved. Fisher's development couldn't have come at a more opportune time. The space race was on and the astronauts involved in the Mercury and Gemini missions had been using pencils to take notes in space since standard ball points did not work in zero gravity. The Fisher cartridge did work in the weightlessness of outer space and the astronauts beginning with the October 1968 Apollo 7 mission began using the Fisher AG-7 Space Pen and cartridge developed in 1966. Prior to flying on any operational space mission all instruments must past through a rigorous testing program. The Fisher Space Pen was tested for two years before being accepted by NASA. Pens must write in the gravity free vacuum of space and must write at any angle. Used on NASA's Apollo Missions and Shuttle Missions. Russian Soyuz and MIR Space Flights ARIANE French space program. Although renowned for the invention of the anti-gravity pen for space travellers the Fisher Space Pen also has proven track record here on earth. Due to its unique design and reputation for writing in extreme conditions the Space Pen has become the pen of choice for the United States air force law enforcement agencies undersea explorers mountain climbing expeditions ski and snowboard teams or anyone else demanding a high degree of reliability from the equipment they select. The Space Pen has even been chosen for a few less extreme "celebrity" appearances. Space Pen users know the value of owning a product that routinely performs beyond their expectations. In addition to being durable the Fisher Bullet pen is also attractive and has been displayed in the New York Museum of Modern Art - cited as an outstanding example of industrial art. Fisher Space Pens are also used by: Scuba Divers Recreational and professional scuba divers appreciate the unique characteristics of the Fisher Space Pen. - Writes underwater and on wet surfaces - Not affected by cold damp conditions - Writes on most smooth surfaces Used by the Jacques Cousteau Society Mountain Climbers Mountain climbers benefit from the Space Pen's rugged reliability and capacity to keep writing at any angle any temperature and any weather conditions encountered during a climb. - Writes underwater and on wet surfaces - Not affected by cold damp conditions - Writes on most smooth surfaces Used during the Everest North Face Ski Expedition 1997 Outdoor Enthusiasts The Fisher Space Pen is an ideal product for outdoor enthusiasts for recording memorable data from your excursions i.e. Map info for navigation golf scores on coated stock score cards. The Space Pen keeps writing in the rain all other weather conditions. - Writes in all environmental conditions - Writes on coated paper plastic Used by Canoers Hikers Campers Golfers Fishermen Snowmobilers US Military The US Military accepts no less than the highest design specifications when selecting equipment for use in the field. Equipment must be reliable while operating under the most extreme conditions. - Remain operational under all climatic conditions - Write through water and in extreme heat and cold - write reliably in extreme weather conditions - write on carbonless paper through finger prints and in wet conditions Used by U.S. Navy Seals U.S. Armed Forces Used by FBI State Troopers Provincial Police R.C.M.P. "