When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ballpoint pens would not work in zero gravity.
To combat the problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion to develop a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 300 C.
The Russians used a pencil.
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Hey I wonder if you poured out some water in space if it would float around in big globs that you could poke and stuff.
i think its amusing that it is actually dangerous to use a pencil in zero gravity!! this is because a broken led and pencil shavings will just float around and if accidentally breathed in could do alot of damage! although i love the nasa pen thing i dont mean to be a kill joy when i say actually many ball point pens do work in zero gravity anyway!