[melling]

He’s probably referring to the time NASA lost the $125 million spacecraft because teams used different systems.

https://www.wired.com/2010/11/1110mars-climate-observer-repo...

It’s helpful when there’s only one system. In the US, it’s too costly to switch. HN readers are global and we’re technical so there’s no reason not to simply use metric.

[EdwardDiego]

> In the US, it’s too costly to switch.

What is the estimated cost out of curiosity?

[adrianmonk]

I estimate the cost to be 1 unit of national pride.

[melling]

Everything has a cost. NASA estimated their cost was $370 million to switch to metric.

https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/why-the-us-hasnt-fully-adopt...

The cost of switching road signs alone was quite expensive. Exit numbers, for example, are often the mile marker number.

[adrianmonk]

Oh yeah, I'm not saying there's zero monetary cost. I'm saying the blocker isn't affordability.