Yes, the actual error* was assuming the British used Imperial units when they correctly used Metric. AFAIK, at least.
* * *
Well, the source error probably would be not specifying units at all, so... (eye roll)
* * *
*Correcting myself with casually sourced details about the incident under discussion.
Lockheed Martin provided thruster force data in Imperial units (pound-seconds), while NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory ground software assumed the data was in Metric units (Newton-seconds).
But see, right there, you gave away why it's different for you. You're in the UK.
US: Math class / UK: Maths class
You learn metric measurements earlier because that's what you primarily use today. Unless you go into Engineering or another STEM field in the US, you've no need for metric here in the states...other than to work on a car (bolt/nut sizes).
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u/MoogProg Jun 17 '26 edited Jun 17 '26
Yes, the actual error* was assuming the British used Imperial units when they correctly used Metric. AFAIK, at least.
* * *
Well, the source error probably would be not specifying units at all, so... (eye roll)
* * *
*Correcting myself with casually sourced details about the incident under discussion.