Space Pens and Simple Solutions

Complexity looks impressive.
Until it's not.

There is a NASA legend in which they assembled a task force to solve the problem of using a ball point pen in space. The mechanics of a typical pen are firmly integrated with gravity. This is proven anytime one attempts to write on something above one's head. (To be fair, few people in the earth's gravity well really need to do this.) So NASA spend a lot of time and money to develop a space pen. You can now write above your head, in space, and apparently underwater. You can now buy your own space pen on Amazon. (I won't lie. I used to use these pens until I started getting my handcrafted pens from Technitis.)

The Russians solved the problem of writing in space in a completely different manner.
They used a pencil.

There's something elegant about a simple solution. And the simple solution is often the one to keep us moving.

This is space travel. I'm sure the Russians felt there were enough other issues to concerned about. Like staying alive in space.

Complexity advances thought and technology. And now we have space pens.

Perhaps there's a time and a place for both.