I think so.
Did You know that while We (NASA) created a Ballpoint Space Pen that pumps the Ink to the Tip so it would write in Zero Gravity the Ruskie’s simply took a bunch of #2 Pencils up to Space...
K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid
I believe in KISS but your example only goes to show how out of control our government is when it comes to spending and keeping their budgets redlined so that more spending can be added in the future. Great example though and will try to remember it in the future
Did You know that while We (NASA) created a Ballpoint Space Pen that pumps the Ink to the Tip so it would write in Zero Gravity the Ruskie’s simply took a bunch of #2 Pencils up to Space...
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The downside to graphite pencils is graphite is conductive. Break off the end of a graphite pencil and you have a potential electrical short floating around the space capsule. You don’t want to sharpen a graphite pencil in space as now you’ve created microscopic graphite dust, which is also conductive.
That Space Pen story is an urban myth. The manufacturer did all the R&D on their own and brought it to NASA.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-nasa-spen/
pencil sharpener makes pencil shavings in zero g.
Nasa can pump fluids in small areas tech.