Surveying: Space pens with survey paper?

[Chads93GT]

I was wondering about sketching in the cave. I know pencils have their merits due to being able to erase mistakes........but I see that places also sell the space pens (they write upside down) where they sell survey paper and other surveying supplies. Has anyone actually used one of these? How do they work when the paper is muddy and wet? Im guessing not well? I only wonder because my wife has one lying around, got it from work, and I was amazed with it writing upside down.

I think I was more amazed that NASA spent $1 billion developing the pen to write upside down, when they could have simply used a pencil ;)

[rebelfirefighter]

The space pen uses pressurized ink cartridges and is claimed to write in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, over wet and greasy paper, at any angle, and in extreme temperature ranges. Just make sure you don't bump your head during the zero gravity part. Other than that it orta work good.

[Steven Johnson]

I think I was more amazed that NASA spent $1 billion developing the pen to write upside down, when they could have simply used a pencil ;)

Yeah, 'cept Nasa didn't develop it. Fisher did, then offered it to Nasa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen

[JR-Orion]

I think I was more amazed that NASA spent $1 billion developing the pen to write upside down, when they could have simply used a pencil ;)

Yeah, 'cept Nasa didn't develop it. Fisher did, then offered it to Nasa: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Pen

I know this it off topic, but I clicked on the link in your sig. That game sounds great! And Will Crowther the caver / programmer... wonder if he was married to Pat Crowther, who was there on the big Mammoth Cave connection trip? Kept reading, and sure enough. It's a small world. :)