NASA decides its enough !!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Yes. NASA finally decides to go completely "metric". I say completely 'cause they have been trying a few things here and there but it was not until today that they came up stating that - the next time they return astronauts to the Moon, the mission will be measured in kilometers - not in MILES.
I wonder why the FPS system is still being followed out here when the rest of the world has adopted and adapted to the SI system - using Metre, Gram, Litre instead of Miles and Pounds and Gallons. The worst part is that the education system here makes us learn facts and figures in the SI system. But once you graduate and get out there in the real world - gotta revert back to FPS.
I (like many others out here) have found this amusing and it took me some time to get accustomed to the usage, especially implementing it in my day-to-day activities. Guess its time to move ahead and why not? At least we won't be losing spacecrafts. According to Wikipedia, "As of 2005 only three countries, the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar (Burma) had not completed the changeover". Wow !! There's some company ;-)
Looking into the near future - I believe NASA would be losing a bit of productivity due to the switch. Scientists would have to "re-learn" the sizes of all the equipments, Metal Sheets, Screws, Fasteners (and what not).
Let's go back to school !!
Labels: FPS, Kilo, Mars, Metre, Mile, MKS, Moon, NASA, School, SI, Space, Spacecraft, US, Wikipedia
Posted by Rajesh @ 7:49 PM; PERMALINK,
6 Shouts:
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At January 11, 2007 12:02 AM,
MadV said...
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Your blog is looking awesome. Guess it is more SE friendly.
Happy Happy Happy New Year to You tooo :-)..
Coming to commenting part.. Well what you said is right, the common man never follows SI. I never realised that even NASA follows the same. -
At January 11, 2007 7:20 PM,
Rajesh said...
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@ Madv - Thanks !!
Well, we still use the SI system back in India - even a common man uses it (KM,Litre etc..etc...). Out here its Mile and Gallons etc..etc.. ;) -
At January 19, 2007 10:18 AM,
ammu said...
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Alriiiight. New format! Nice :)
Seriously....who need miles and pounds when you got km and kg? -
At January 19, 2007 6:46 PM,
Rajesh said...
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@ amrita - yeah :D. Have been playing around with the older template for a while n got hold of this one somehow. About the SI units - yeah all it does is creates helluva confusion. Tough to change standards though - esp. in this country.
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At January 20, 2007 12:32 PM,
Mr. Hyde said...
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herez an adder... apparently US process industries did try to make a shift in mid-90s to SI system, which is also when they introduced it in the school curriculums... but the behemoth of an industry that is, and the huge momentum that was required (especially on part of the operators in the plants) derailed the effort... outcome - SI system stayed in school, and got crushed in the industry... we need something in life to keep it "interesting" don't we :-D
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At January 21, 2007 3:04 PM,
Rajesh said...
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@ rockin_p - Hey, thats a kewl trivia !! Didn't know that they tried to introduce SI into their school curriculum.
