Summary
Overview
In this Field Notes episode, Michael Stevens brings a cherished space pen from his childhood space camp days to finally test after 25 years. The hosts explore the history and science of Fisher space pens used by NASA astronauts, conduct their long-awaited experiment, and answer listener questions about astronaut orientation in space, the destructive potential of synchronized clapping, and the Kardashev scale for measuring civilizations' energy usage. The episode balances nostalgic experimentation with thoughtful skepticism about popular science concepts.
The Space Pen Experiment: 25 Years in the Making
Michael reveals a Fisher space pen purchased at space camp 25 years ago that he's never used, waiting for the perfect moment to test it. The pen was designed for NASA's Apollo program to work in weightless environments using pressurized gas instead of gravity. Despite sitting unused for over two decades, the pen writes flawlessly both right-side up and upside down, validating Fisher's claim of 100-year longevity. The hosts explore the myth about Russians using pencils and reveal both space programs actually use the same Fisher pen.
- Michael attended space camp in Hutchinson, Kansas for three summers at ages 14-16, earning 'gold wings' and getting scuba certified for neutral buoyancy training
- Fisher space pens use pressurized gas to push ink instead of gravity, allowing them to write underwater and upside down
- The common myth that NASA spent millions while Russians used pencils is false - pencils create dangerous graphite debris in weightless environments
- Paul Fisher invested about a million dollars of his own money to develop the pen, then sold it to NASA for just $4.06 per pen
- Both NASA and Soviet/Russian space programs use the same Fisher space pens, making it the universal standard in space
" I went to space camp as a kid three summers in a row. Earned my gold wings. I'm kind of a big deal. I like to brag. I don't like to brag but... "
" When you write with a pencil, there's in a weightless environment, like up in orbit, there's little pieces of graphite that float around and now you're going to breathe them in or they're going to get into the electronics and graphite can conduct electricity. "
Space Camp Memories and Weightless Training
Michael describes his formative experiences at space camp, where teenagers trained like astronauts through simulated missions and specialized equipment. He recalls being spun in gyroscopes, assigned to shuttle crews, and learning neutral buoyancy techniques underwater using 'busy boards' to simulate working in weightless conditions. The experience clearly left a lasting impression, connecting his childhood fascination with space to his current science communication career.
- Space camp lasted one to two weeks at various locations, focusing on different aspects like spaceflight history and robotics in different years
- Participants trained on gyroscopes while plugging cables and completing tests, mimicking astronaut tasks
- Neutral buoyancy training required scuba certification and working on 'busy boards' underwater to learn how to tighten bolts without your body moving
- Campers were assigned roles like commander, pilot, or mission specialist and judged on mission performance
" I had to get scuba certified because a lot of weightless training on Earth is done in a neutral buoyancy suit in water. Being neutrally buoyant means you don't sink or float, you're just floating there. "
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