L-R: Cary Fisher, President and Matt Fisher, VP Sales & Marketing at Fisher Space Pen.

The Fisher Space Pen has Flown on Every Crewed Space Flight Since Apollo 7

CAPE CANAVERAL (July 09, 2019) –  Fisher Space Pen Co., in partnership with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, unveils a new Legacy exhibit inside the Apollo/Saturn V Center in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of NASA’s Apollo 11 mission. The display details the history of the iconic Astronaut Space Pen that has flown on every crewed space mission since Apollo 7.

Part of the reimagining of the Apollo/Saturn V Center for the 50th anniversary, the Fisher Space Pen Legacy exhibit includes a timeline of the development of the revolutionary zero gravity pen by Paul C. Fisher, inventor and founder of the Fisher Pen Co. The exhibit also includes a series of Fisher Space Pen models commemorating several historic landmark dates in space history as well as a timeline of memorable highlights throughout the 50-year history of the Fisher Space Pen. A series of events held at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and in the community will take place throughout the month of July honoring Apollo 11’s historic Moon landing. An event schedule and ticket information can be found on the visitor complex website at www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.

“Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has been a wonderful partner for the last 14 years,” said Cary Fisher, President, Fisher Space Pen Co. “We are especially excited for this opportunity to tell our company story as it related to our work with NASA and the Apollo missions specifically, over the last 50 years.”

“The Fisher Space Pen exhibit shares the rich history and evolution of an iconic company that has contributed to space exploration from the beginning,” said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. “The Apollo/Saturn V Center is the perfect location for this exhibit and we are thrilled to share this story with our visitors as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon mission.”

Fisher Space Pen Co. is a family-owned company and its products are proudly made in America. The company recently celebrated the 50th Anniversary of its AG7 Astronaut Space Pen’s maiden flight aboard NASA’s Apollo 7 on October 11, 1968. The Fisher Space Pen brand has become an iconic symbol of American technology and design.

Fisher Space Pen Co. recently unveiled its commemorative Apollo 11 Limited Edition 50th Anniversary Astronaut Pen & Coin Set which is available for purchase at the Space Shop and The Right Stuff at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

History of Fisher Space Pen

When crewed space missions began, astronauts had a problem writing in space. The ink in regular ball-point pens wouldn’t flow in zero gravity. Instead, Astronauts used pencils but the lead often broke and became a hazard floating in the capsule’s atmosphere. Paul C. Fisher, who was then president of the Fisher Pen Company and had been manufacturing ballpoint pens since 1948, started thinking about how ordinary ballpoint pens would have trouble writing in space, but if a pen could be sealed and pressurized, it would keep the solvents from evaporating in the gravity-free vacuum of space.

After spending over $1 million dollars of his own money and years of research, Fisher finally came up with a patented pressurized ink cartridge that keeps solvents from evaporating and allows ink to flow in zero gravity. The pressurized cartridge allows the pen to write upside down, under water, in extreme temperatures from -30 to +250 degrees F (-35 to +121 Celsius), over almost any surface and three times longer than the average pen. These qualities and its iconic design and durability also made the Fisher Space Pen an instant favorite on Earth.

Fisher sent samples of his prototype to Dr. Robert Gilruth, Director of the Houston Space Center. The prototypes were thoroughly tested by NASA and passed all tests. NASA astronauts began using the Fisher AG-7 Anti-Gravity Space Pen aboard the Apollo 7 Mission and Fisher Space Pen has been used on all crewed space flights since, including NASA’s Space Shuttle Program missions, the Mir Space Station and the International Space Station as well as the Russian and Chinese space programs.

IG: @fisherspacepen

About Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the U.S. space program, offering a full day or more of fun, inspiration and educational activities. This includes the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which features an actual Saturn V Moon rocket, and is currently being upgraded and expanded in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch and Moon landing. Also included with admission are Heroes & Legends, featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, presented by Boeing, the Kennedy Space Center Bus Tour, Space Shuttle Atlantis®, Shuttle Launch Experience®, 3D space films, Astronaut Encounter, Journey To Mars: Explorers Wanted, Science on a Sphere®, and the Rocket Garden. Add-on experiences available for an additional fee include the new Astronaut Training Experience® Exploring with Lockheed Martin, Cosmic Quest, Dine With an Astronaut and special interest bus tours. Only 45 minutes from Orlando, Fla., Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex opens daily at 9 a.m. with closing times varying by season. Admission is $57 + tax for adults and $47 + tax for children ages 3 – 11. Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers annual passes starting at $82 + tax for adults and $67 + tax for children ages 3 – 11. For more information, call 877-313-2610 or visit www.KennedySpaceCenter.com.

Twitter: @ExploreSpaceKSC

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