Terry,
(B
(BA short time ago you published a link to the NASA Metric Directive and
(Bnow to the IG's report following the MCO disaster. Those are both
(Bexcellent documents to read. Links to those were posted here a few years
(Bago but I'm sure that most people have since lost them. Thanks for
(Breposting those links.
(B
(BKeep in mind that part of the "faster, cheaper, better" program was the
(Bpolicy to use unneeded spare parts from previous missions (legacy
(Bmaterials, already spaace qualified) or to buy "off the shelf" when
(Bthose were not available and when off-the-shelf parts were available.
(BBoth of these stategies sometimes resulted in getting materials from
(Bpre-1988 (and thus often non-metric) missions or non-metric parts when
(Bthat tended to be the commercial standard.
(B
(BI wrote a four page letter, on college letterhead, to the IG with copies
(Bto key congressmen regarding his report and rebutting the NASA response.
(BI heard nothing in response to my item-by-item comments from the IG but
(Bdid get a brief letter of acknowledgement from a couple of congressmen.
(BI can only hope that it had some positive effect.
(B
(BGiven all that, yes, NASA does try to be as metric as possible in its
(Bmission designs despite budget constraints. Their worst offenders are
(Btheir PAOs who often take metric data and specifications and then
(Bconvert it to non-metric for their public releases.
(B
(BJim
(B
([EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
(B>
(B> February 20, 2001
(B>
(B> http://sse.jpl.nasa.gov/whatsnew/pr/010307A.html
(B>
(B> --
(B> Terry Simpson
(B> Human Factors Consultant
(B> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
(B> www.connected-systems.com
(B> Phone: +44 7850 511794
(B
(B--
(BJames R. Frysinger
(BLifetime Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
(BSenior Member, IEEE
(B
(Bhttp://www.cofc.edu/~frysingj
([EMAIL PROTECTED]
([EMAIL PROTECTED]
(B
(BOffice:
(B Physics Lab Manager, Lecturer
(B Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
(B University/College of Charleston
(B 66 George Street
(B Charleston, SC 29424
(B 843.953.7644 (phone)
(B 843.953.4824 (FAX)
(B
(BHome:
(B 10 Captiva Row
(B Charleston, SC 29407
(B 843.225.0805
