re: The Enginners Did Not Decide That
Yes, chemical engineers are chemists first and then engineers. Not like mechical ones who are oure engineers.
Its not about setting in front of a computer and plotting how something works or being a refinery in the middle of a big complex with all the support minutes away when something goes wrong. Its about actually being at a drill site a hundred miles from nowhere and finding the equipment sent you that was tested in Texas by the "office" engineers doesn't work on the North Slope. The more tests and the harsher the test the better it is when you get out in the boonies. The Moon will be a good harsh environment to learn about how equipment will fail while you are still close enough to civilization to do something about it.