According to metric usage documents, and updates, that
Nasa have released in the past while, they've made
their position clear. Their change-over only occurred
in about 1995. From this point on, they will make
every effort to use SI in all NEW design programs. For
a program that was initiated pre-1995, however, they
won't change ifp if it contains any, in the interests
of keeping things smooth and seamless. The problem is
though that NASA is supplied by and contracts out
construction of space craft to the aerospace industry.
The American aerospace industry appears to be still
resolutely non-metric, and, due to their dominance in
the world, sometimes make even foreign aerospace
companies use a certain amount of ifp (e.g. fastener
sizes.) So, to answer your question, it's very likely
(though not 100%) that the project will use SI, based
on these facts:
- Italy would use it anyway;
- The project is new, so NASA will make a good effort.
However, if NASA is involved in the construction
aspect, then it's likely they'll get the US aerospace
industry to do it and thus ifp creeps in. Apart from
this, though, I can't see any other way it could get
in.
Also, to the guy complaining about NASA press reports:
NASA are a bit more shaky on end-user stuff. They
apparently had a phase-out period for ifp in their
press releases, with metric-only coming in in around
1999 (I think.) But it's pretty clear that they've
reneged on this final step, since even their own
websites still give dual or ifp only, occasionally.
--- "James R. Frysinger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >
NASA just announced the following:
> NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) announced
> their agreement on the framework of a potential
> bilateral cooperative agreement that could result
> in ASI development of a U.S. Habitation Module for
> the International Space Station.
> I wonder what units of measurement will be used to
> build this.
>
> The full announcement may be read at
>
>
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/spacenews/releases/h01-76.html
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