Did you know that modern space rockets are influenced by Roman heritage? In other words, the size of current rockets still reflects standards set during the Roman era. Rocket components were transported by rail to launch sites and had to pass through an intermediate tunnel. It was more practical to limit the size of the rocket rather than build a new tunnel. The track width was determined by the steam locomotive, which was adapted to match the width of British wagons pulled by two horses. The width of the track is based on the hips of the two horses, which in turn are derived from the size of a Roman chariot. This phenomenon is called Path Dependency. Humans tend to stick with the past. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”
In September 1999, NASA’s unmanned Mars climate probe “MCO” exploded in Mars’ orbit. Manufacturer Lockheed Martin set up the data unit as a “yard,” but NASA mistook it as a “meter.” The MCO entered the atmosphere of Mars 100 km below the original orbit and exploded in friction. Communication error had blown away $ 125 million. With this opportunity, NASA decided that the units used in space development were “meters”. A slip of the tongue in business doesn’t end just a mistake accidentally. It must undoubtedly damage the “cash flow”. - Joseph’s “just my thoughts”