I remember a rather advanced 'camera' that was a joint
effort between the US and other countries.
When it came time to line up the bits - the other
countries mated beautifully. The US contribution
didn't.

Why?

Because the other countries stuff was done in metric
and the US was done in US and then 'converted' to
metric.

I think all Americans are deeply, subconsciously,
xenophobic - even with staunch, never fail allies.
Hell - the US is a barely United States at the best
of times - the *states* don't even trust each other.

I can see a time coming where the US will turn
inwards (ala China) and do its own thing for a
while.