engineering is not about designing “the best” as in the best materials etc. It involves the determination of operating parameters and the selection of material and construction to meet these parameters. going overboard is not good engineering. Space travel has different parameters than on Earth, so the specifications would necessarily require a more robust design. Why would I design an oil filter that has a stronger filter bowl when the existing design is fine for 15,000 miles ( my generated numbers – with a maintenance schedule of 6000 change miles)? Within operating parameters there is no advantage. Outside the parameters it may very well have, but why would I care. I never intend to go 10,000 miles between oil changes. For me the advantage has to be experienced on the ground, not just on paper. My driving and maintenance habits just don’t support the need for this filter.
Walk-in mirrors are close to perfection, but we don’t need that specification for our bathrooms, even though they are undoubtedly a better product.
