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.

Goes to show the American Government spending our tax dollars on a "worthy" cause again....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_pen

It wasn't actually developed by NASA, although the guy who invented it DOES now sell them to both the American and Russian space programs. The most interesting thing from the article, I think, is that a normal ballpoint pen will, in fact, work in space. On the other hand, you have to admit, it's a damned sexy inkpen. (I happen to be a writing enthusiast. I don't go for fountain pens or anything quite that fancy, but a nice ballpoint or rollerball is a treat.)

pens are pointless!

due to carbon dating anything in pencil can be found millions of years later

woo i am an art major who will be living in a box haha but at least i know more then Nasa