Comments for 2009-05-30-NASA-Puts-Astronaughts-At-Risk-With-Measurement


Paul Armstrong | 2009-05-31 at 04:32
Here's my letter to Obama:

I saw today that NASA plans on putting our astronauts lives at risk by using customary measurements as their primary measurement system for the Constellation Program (instead of using exclusively SI). This means we're going to end up with another Mars Orbiter crash, only this time it's going to have humans on board instead of merely costing us $326.7 million (plus lost research and opportunity cost). The proposed NASA policy is at http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=31353

As you've said in several speeches, it's time for us to rejoin the world instead of standing off to the side doing our own thing. Measurement is a crucial part of how the world works and it's time for us to move to all metric, not to repeat the mistakes of the past (as NASA seems intent on doing).

Can you please tell me when the administration plans on finally bringing us change we need in our measurement system?

We need to move to using metric exclusively, not continuing with a mix.

Moving to metric not only signals to the rest of the world that we really are intent on becoming a global citizen, but also improves trade (no one else uses our measurement system, so we lose a lot of trade because no other country wants non-metric goods) and will help significantly with education (no wasted time explaining our complex and convoluted measurement system).

Thanks, Paul

John Steele | 2009-05-31 at 10:39
I'm glad you wrote President Obama. That could be more effective than writing NASA (which is probably a waste of time).

NASA's continued efforts to pursue "exceptions" to their own metric policy makes them, in my view, a "rogue agency" relative to EO 12770 and the intent of Congress that metric is the preferred system of measure. I doubt public appeals will sway them. Their boss's boss and Congress, who control their purse-strings, will sway them (assuming we can engage those forces).

I was surprised by Stan Jakuba's note (on USMA server) that they have struggled with metrication since the 70's. This "exception" obviously explains why. But internally, this must be the most unsuccessful metrication program ever. Only strong directives from outside will ever change the mind set. Something along the line of "the next employee to suggest an english exception will be fired for cause."