How Fisher Space Pens Revolutionized Writing In Zero Gravity

At the Space Symposium In Colorado Springs, Joe Anselmo interviews Eric Bond of Fisher Space Pen Company about its iconic product which recently flew on the Artemis II mission. 

Bond shares the pen's fascinating history, dating back to 1968 when NASA needed a solution for writing in zero gravity. 

Unlike pencils, which pose risks due to floating graphite and shavings, Fisher Space Pens feature a sealed, pressurized ink cartridge infused with nitrogen and thixotropic viscoelastic ink. 

This innovative design allows the pen to write without gravity, making it a staple on every manned spaceflight since its creation. 

Manufactured in Boulder City, Nevada, these American-made pens continue to play a vital role in space exploration, showcasing cutting-edge technology and enduring reliability.

Joe Anselmo

Joe Anselmo has been Editorial Director of the Aviation Week Network and Editor-in-Chief of Aviation Week & Space Technology since 2013. Based in Washington, D.C., he directs a team of more than two dozen aerospace journalists across the U.S., Europe and Asia-Pacific.