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Does the mars rover crash due to metric vs imperial units not being converted count? http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric.02/ http://www.cnn.com/T

• danso 11y ago
  I don't think so. From the summary posted on Wikipedia [0], it sounds more like a routine software engineering interface error: the Lockheed Martin system returned U.S. units, while the NASA system expected metric units. Also, looks like classic project mismanagement made a vital contribution, too: > The discrepancy between calculated and measured position, resulting in the discrepancy between desired and actual orbit insertion altitude, had been noticed earlier by at least two navigators, whose concerns were dismissed. A meeting of trajectory software engineers, trajectory software operators (navigators), propulsion engineers, and managers, was convened to consider the possibility of executing Trajectory Correction Maneuver-5, which was in the schedule. Attendees of the meeting recall an agreement to conduct TCM-5, but it was ultimately not done. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Climate_Orbiter https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Climate_Orbiter
  • sitkack 11y ago
    Which would have been prevented by using unit preserving calculations. http://futureboy.us/frinkdocs/ http://futureboy.us/frinkdocs/ https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd233243.aspx https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd233243.aspx http://unitsofmeasurement.github.io/ http://unitsofmeasurement.github.io/