# Can someone confirm this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 14, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901 "2003-12-14T05:00:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![paul\_smars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@paul\_smars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paul_smars)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/1 "2003-12-14T05:00:53Z")
I just got this e mail. Does anyone know the Straight Dope on this pen thing?? "When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in 0 gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 billion developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300 C. The Russians used a pencil. Enjoy paying your Taxes!!!" ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Ash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@Mr.Ash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Ash)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/2 "2003-12-14T05:03:10Z")
[Snopes.](http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp) That one never seems to die. ---
**Author:** ![adirondack\_mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5a626/32.png) [@adirondack\_mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adirondack_mike)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/3 "2003-12-14T05:04:26Z")
our friend [snopes](http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/4 "2003-12-14T05:04:38Z")
Got a glurge email? Does it sound like a crock of s\*\*t? The first point of call in these cases should always be [www.snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com). Odds are they will have already answered your question., as they have in this case. It’s a load or tripe, as most of these e-mails are. > **[FACT CHECK: NASA's 'Astronaut Pen'](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-write-stuff/)** > > Space race legend claims NASA spent millions of dollars developing an 'astronaut pen' that would work in outer space, while the Soviets solved the same problem by simply using pencils. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/5 "2003-12-14T05:05:48Z")
Has anyone mentioned Snopes yet? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![paul\_smars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@paul\_smars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paul_smars)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/6 "2003-12-14T05:17:58Z")
Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/7 "2003-12-14T05:20:09Z")
You might want to check Snopes. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/8 "2003-12-14T06:44:10Z")
Ah, they’re answered by “Snopes” already. ---
**Author:** ![netscape\_6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8c91f0/32.png) [@netscape\_6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/netscape_6)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/9 "2003-12-14T06:52:54Z")
i heard that snopes might have the answer for this type of stuff. they also have info on 1920s style death rays. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Babbington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Mr.Babbington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Babbington)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/10 "2003-12-14T07:17:12Z")
Please. Don’t let it happen. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-confirm-this/218901/11 "2003-12-14T17:49:44Z")
Hey, **paul’smars** that note right at the top of the forum, about using _descriptive thread titles_… guess what? It doesn’t apply to you. Oh, actually, yes it does. Snopes is your friend. Descriptive thread titles are ours.