Astronaut Flashlight!

[JayFramer]

Guys they're making repros of the Apollo mission flashlights used by the astronauts going to the moon:

The Apollo penlight. A flashlight from space golden age. by Javier L. Barbarin —Kickstarter

As a boy, I used to make a "tent fort spaceship" and put out a picture of the earth from space from one of my science books my aunt gave me, to make it look like a window. I think if you went back in time and gave me one of these flashlights to use in my "lem module", I would have freaked out! They were only made for the Apollo program and were used a while afterwards for future space missions.

This is extremely cool to me on a personal level. The project made well over it's kickstarter amount, and is going to be made by a company that makes high quality flashlights used for diving and stuff. I watched the little video about the light and almost started crying. I can't imagine how brave those men were to go into space, such an inhospitable and unknown environment, for the advancement of human exploration and science. Gives me chills.

Very cool. If all goes well I plan to own one for sure. How nifty! Thought I'd share.

-Jay

 

[Texas Star]

Describe the batteries and bulbs needed.

I feel the same way about Randall's Model 18 Astro knife AND THE SPECIAL cASE MACHETE FOR ASTRONAUTS. Sorry; I keep hitting that blasted Caps Lock key. Third time I've typed this.

 

[DWalt]

Describe the batteries and bulbs needed.

I feel the same way about Randall's Model 18 Astro knife AND THE SPECIAL cASE MACHETE FOR ASTRONAUTS. Sorry; I keep hitting that blasted Caps Lock key. Third time I've typed this.

The link suggests that the original NASA flashlights had an incandescent bulb and the new one will have an LED. Probably with AA batteries. Back in the space race days, there probably weren't many (if any) LEDs, and regular incandescent bulbs were used. I remember seeing some very tiny incandescent bulbs back in that period, but maybe those NASA flashlights just used standard bulbs typically used in penlights.

 

[Evil Dog]

Space Race..... we spent millions of dollars developing a pen that would write in space. The Russians used a pencil !!!

 

[wingriderz]

Space Race..... we spent millions of dollars developing a pen that would write in space. The Russians used a pencil !!!

Lol Rember all the hipe on T V as a kid. TANG The Breakfast drink of the Astoruants. Growing up as a kid on the Space Coast I rember all the moon launches and also shuttle launches. Open up the front door and watch. I rember one of the moon lanchs was a night time one. Our nest door neighbor was in charge of building the looner rover she was cussing like a sailor when one of the astrouants crashed it up there. We where in grade school and neighbor was venting about it. We had to go inside lol.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Space Race..... we spent millions of dollars developing a pen that would write in space. The Russians used a pencil !!!

Yeah, but the Seinfeld episode about the "Space Pen" was worth it.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODO0zQBPI2k[/ame]

 

[Rule3]

Sounds cool. Now I love Lumens and the Space Program (NASA) and all that. Remember many launches.

So basically this company (who makes all the great dive lights/lanterns??) needs money to make a penlight with a LED and AA battery?

The whole description is so Flowery and eloquently written along with the video, I mean really??

How much would a Surefire or Fenix version cost??

 

[DWalt]

You can buy a pretty good small flashlight with an LED source of about the same size and shape at Big Lots for about $2. But it has a plastic body so I guess it would probably disintegrate in outer space.

My B-I-L gave me one of those Bell & Howell LED flashlights you see advertised on TV early this year. You know, the one that the truck runs over and works even frozen in a block of ice. A little larger than the NASA flashlight and it has an aluminum body with zoom lens. Overall a very neat flashlight which now lives on our kitchen counter. I think it would work fine on the international space station.

 

[Targets Guy]

Nothing will beat the rechargeable Sanyo flashlight I had in Vietnam in 1970. You needed them to be able to see the cobras stretched across the road at night.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Sounds cool. Now I love Lumens and the Space Program (NASA) and all that. Remember many launches.

So basically this company (who makes all the great dive lights/lanterns??) needs money to make a penlight with a LED and AA battery?

The whole description is so Flowery and eloquently written along with the video, I mean really??

How much would a Surefire or Fenix version cost??

The price is wrapped around novelty and nostalgia... about $100 to backers.

Eh... I got plenty of lights in that price category, but for NASA buffs it sounds pretty good. No surprise the funding goal has been exceeded. Barbolight is a small operation... stopped production a while back and is now back up. Some interesting commentary on Candlepower.

 

[Jessie]

You can buy a pretty good small flashlight with an LED source of about the same size and shape at Big Lots for about $2. But it has a plastic body so I guess it would probably disintegrate in outer space.

My B-I-L gave me one of those Bell & Howell LED flashlights you see advertised on TV early this year. You know, the one that the truck runs over and works even frozen in a block of ice. A little larger than the NASA flashlight and it has an aluminum body with zoom lens. Overall a very neat flashlight which now lives on our kitchen counter. I think it would work fine on the international space station.

I was especially impressed with how that flashlight is able to cast shadows at odd angles to the light in their commercials.
I'm surprised they don't cost more.

 

[DWalt]

I was especially impressed with how that (B&H) flashlight is able to cast shadows at odd angles to the light in their commercials.
I'm surprised they don't cost more.

I am actually impressed by it, and would recommend it for general use. I like it better than my big 4-cell Maglite which used to be the main household flashlight. But of course the Maglite could be used as club, the B&H can't. Maybe not the brightest, but it does seem adequate and the body is ruggedly constructed. I do like the beam zooming capability. I have never tried that blinding rapid flashing feature which is supposed to scare off an assailant. I somehow doubt that would be very effective outside the TV commercial.

 

[Rule3]

The price is wrapped around novelty and nostalgia... about $100 to backers.

Eh... I got plenty of lights in that price category, but for NASA buffs it sounds pretty good. No surprise the funding goal has been exceeded. Barbolight is a small operation... stopped production a while back and is now back up. Some interesting commentary on Candlepower.

Yes, but I am not about to "fund" a company to make something.

When it's available sure I will probably buy one.

Will you donate some money to me so I can get one?

 

[dben002]

Yeah,.....but can you run over it with a tank and it still works?
can you freeze it in a block of ice and works,
can you use it under water?
can you see it from 2 miles away?

 

[JayFramer]

The maker has really good transparency and has answered all questions, and posted many charts and test results. It will be a good light I think, I decided to go ahead and pledge for it so I can get one. I am a NASA buff for sure. Not for everyone but it's very, very cool to me.

 

[Walter Rego]

My sister gave me one of the Fisher Space Pens for Christmas back in 1984. It has been in the glovebox of every car I have owned since then. Regular pens don't last long being stored in a hot automobile environment. I am still on the original ink cartridge. It doesn't get used much, but it still works every time I need it. Not bad for 33 years in service.

 

[RobertJ.]

Yeah, but the Seinfeld episode about the "Space Pen" was worth it.

Stellllaaaa!!!!

If nobody else referenced it, I would have!

 

[Faulkner]

The price is wrapped around novelty and nostalgia... about $100 to backers.

Eh... I got plenty of lights in that price category, but for NASA buffs it sounds pretty good. No surprise the funding goal has been exceeded. Barbolight is a small operation... stopped production a while back and is now back up. Some interesting commentary on Candlepower.

For some people nostalgia is important. Nothing wrong with that. Maybe it reminds or reconnects them to fond memories of certain events or people in their life. The Apollo program and initial moon landing was certainly a quantifying event for the majority of baby boomers.

In a practical sense, this flashlight doesn't seem to be as capable as a modern light of similar size at half the price, but the new lights don't have the nostalgic impact. I'm young enough that the Apollo program wasn't a big deal for me, I'm in more of the Space Shuttle time frame.

 

[BlackAgnes]

Texas Star--- No big magilla, but the Randall Astro is their Model 17. The Model 18 is the tubular handle survival knife, based upon the Model 14 sawtooth blade grind.

Gotta love a Randall! The holy grail for me would be the Model 8 that Francis Gary Powers was carrying when his U-2 was shot down over Russia. I believe it resides, with his High Standard pistol, in the Moscow Museum.

 

[JayFramer]

Texas Star--- No big magilla, but the Randall Astro is their Model 17. The Model 18 is the tubular handle survival knife, based upon the Model 14 sawtooth blade grind.

Gotta love a Randall! The holy grail for me would be the Model 8 that Francis Gary Powers was carrying when his U-2 was shot down over Russia. I believe it resides, with his High Standard pistol, in the Moscow Museum.

Putin uses it every morning to shave with!