Want to Form New Virtual Space Agency

[Wood]

Want some advice?

Take a leaf out of Orbiter Forum Space Stations.

Easy to understand but fun missions, no silly rules about Ironman time compression or realism settings, no boring paperwork and whatnot. Download addons > fly mission > post screenshots and completed scenario > recount tales of daring-do and glory! The people running them clearly put a lot of effort into them, and it showed. Excellent fun, mostly because it gave me a perfect excuse to try things I hadn't tried before, rather than faffing about like I usually do.

Anyway, don't faff about with building websites or other such rubbish. First, decide what you want to do: a space station, a satelite constellation, a Lunar programme, a Mars expedition, a Saturn colony, an Aldrin cycler etc... Then, download some addons and play around with them, see what works well and what doesn't. Next, create a fair few scenarios and fly them to see what the missions will be like. After all that, post a thread with some nice screenshots, an overview of the project, and the list of missions.

Most importantly, don't overcomplicate things with random stuff. And have fun! Fun is not optional! It is spaceflight after all...

 

[Cras]

I guess my point is that I see a VSA as being a collective effort. To me a VSA that is closed and has only one person is not a VSA at all, just a blog.

In fact, that is how I fly. I have a launch manifest that I usually have planned out two three years (in orbiter) in advance, and have things such as building a new space station in LEO, rotating the crew, resupply runs, going to build a station around teh moon at some point, and as my Orbiter calender rolls on, I look to incorporate new more future tech vessels into the mix.

For instance, I have retired the shuttle (after flying to till STS-156 that is), had a run of 15 Antares missions to the ISS, to MEO, and to the Moon, then retired that, because now I got the XTS (XR-2 with an array of velco launch vessels and the Energy launcher) and I use that for pretty much all manned missions now.

I got missions summaries written down, crew logs, that sort of thing, but I don't consider that a VSA. I think a VSA has to be a collection of people going for the same goal. Build a space station where each mission is rotated amongst the astronaut office, and a degree of accountability is required. Such as, if you de-orbit the station, you are fired more or less (out of a cannon and into the Sun), like how OFSS III is working at the moment.

 

[mojoey]

i throw in something to spice it up once in a while, and sometimes the random failure can give you some inspiration.

the OIP goals are simple:
Lunar pole colonies by *insert date here* and a thriving Mars colony by *insert date here*
two goals, not a lot of clutter between them. Using Current or Near-tech helps a bunch.

You WILL hit a proverbial 'brick wall' in your motivation at one time or another. Just drop the VSA, and go do something else for a while. Always give it a good amount of effort (the flying, not the non-sense websites and press releases and stuff...that comes later

 

[Napalm42]

I was rather interested, then I saw where this thread was going.

I'm rather confused, but I nonetheless agree with the general consensus on experience. If you're having trouble with syncing or orbit changes, you oughta definitely brush up before you consider sitting in the commander's chair, you'd best know what RInc you want your comm satellite at, or what position you want your colony on.

EDIT: That being said, I don't mind tutoring in the ways of spaceflight.

Personally, I used to be a pilot for a virtual airline back when I played FSX nonstop. I did it for the feel of collaboration with others. When someone says VSA, I think of my imagined Aerospace company that is currently trying to shunt a mess of components to Lunar orbit to assemble a research station, like Cras in a way. If I was so inclined to start a VSA, I'd probably just get three compadres who know their stuff, and fly some missions. To be honest, without (to my knowledge) a multiplayer client, you can't really use many pilots at one time.

 

[Ripley]

Maybe take a more kerbal approach. If the rocket doesn't work, add boosters.[/sarcasm]

Kerbish is a good neologism!

 

[garyw]

I guess my point is that I see a VSA as being a collective effort. To me a VSA that is closed and has only one person is not a VSA at all, just a blog.

You are right, it is more like a blog or a narrative of the various missions I've flown. It could be a VSA very easily but I am way too lazy to invest that much time :lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

I think a VSA has to start like a spaceflight program. You don't need the actual missions, but you need to know how to get towards them and have a very strict time schedule, when you want to achieve which.

Without missions, your VSA will be just hot air. And lack the Soduku at the end of the checklists.