Dimensional Analysis

Just how important is it to be able to convert from one unit of measurement to another? The importance of scientists converting from one unit to another was never more obvious than in 1999 when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) lost a $125 million Mars Climate Orbiter because of a failure to convert from English units to the SI system. Two different teams of scientists were worked on this project - one at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, California and one at a private company in Denver. One group thought that the units being used were metric, but the units being used by the other team from were actually in English units. The mistake in unit conversion caused the orbiter to dip too far into the Mars atmosphere, and the resulting friction caused the craft to burn up.

Do you think the United States should change completely to the metric system? Why or why not? Visit the course discussions area and post your opinion. Return to the topic several times over the next few days to read other posts. Reply to at least two of them, making sure to ask questions and encourage further conversation.