A Different Type of Virtual Space Agency?

[Piper]

I've been thinking of starting a new virtual space agency. Instead of recreating old NASA missions, the emphasis would be on designing missions (especially unmanned interplanetary missions). This would be an agency less for people who just want to fly missions, but for add-on designers like myself who want to do more then just recreate whats already been done. Also, even if you don't know how to make 3D objects, create .dlls, or edit config files, people can still contribute conceiving of missions, helping with the physics and the engineering etc.

What do people think about this, and how many people are interested?

 

[Star explorer]

well piper sign me up im very new to addon making (very very new) but i know how to make 3d objects and ddl files and alot of other stuff exept for config files i edit already made config files for my addons.

PS:will there be an age limit im not a kid but i am a young teen

 

[Piper]

PS:will there be an age limit im not a kid but i am a young teen

Depends what other people think and want, but there probably won't be any age limit.

 

[Star explorer]

cool if you do start a new virtual space agency tell me ill definitly join

 

[mrspacely]

i can paint textures pretty well, and can test flight models.. i can also design html webpages pretty well, let me know if u need some help this sounds interesting

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, the idea finally sounds appealing to me, though I would have to ask: How are the plans for training newbies?

 

[Piper]

Well, the idea finally sounds appealing to me, though I would have to ask: How are the plans for training newbies?

First, a person would have to pass a test to make sure they have the minimum knowledge needed (things like the rocket equation, fuels, etc.) so any person joining would already have to have a basic ability to design a mission. Then a team would be put together, and the team would design a mission. Any newbies would essentially be coached by the team. At least that's what I'm thinking at the moment, if you have any ideas about training, let me know.

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, I think a basic exam would be a good idea for filtering, but I would suggest also having an academy for training people to pass the exams. maybe this could be used for certification, not only for members (nobody would be in for life anyway), but also for other people.

Alone the very basic stuff about spaceflight is a lot of wood. if the people aren't having a chance to prepare for such a exam, only few people would pass it.

 

[Quick_Nick]

I'm also interested in this. I can't work with dlls yet but I can certainly make a spacecraft.dll spacecraft. I can make meshes, do some math, work with the website, fly, and train newbies.(For flight, assuming they know the basics) I spent a good long time teaching members to fly the NASSP Saturn V to the moon and back with TransX in VNASA.

 

[n72.75]

I've been thinking of starting a new virtual space agency. Instead of recreating old NASA missions, the emphasis would be on designing missions (especially unmanned interplanetary missions). This would be an agency less for people who just want to fly missions, but for add-on designers like myself who want to do more then just recreate whats already been done. Also, even if you don't know how to make 3D objects, create .dlls, or edit config files, people can still contribute conceiving of missions, helping with the physics and the engineering etc.

What do people think about this, and how many people are interested?

that sounds great

 

[Xantcha]

This project looks interesting, so I'll be glad to contribute to it ( once it gets organized ; - )

Also, when I read the title I was thinking about something different. Like having a more game-like approach.. try to formulate it later.

 

[Tex]

First, a person would have to pass a test to make sure they have the minimum knowledge needed (things like the rocket equation, fuels, etc.) so any person joining would already have to have a basic ability to design a mission. Then a team would be put together, and the team would design a mission. Any newbies would essentially be coached by the team. At least that's what I'm thinking at the moment, if you have any ideas about training, let me know.

I like the idea of a new VSA. I've already been considering the addition of a sub-forum for VSA's if enough interest is there. Also, I think the idea of a test for people joining is a great idea. There are some flight sim communities like FS-MP which do the same and it really seems to work well. You end up with a mature, knowledgable bunch of people crazy about flight sims.

 

[Brad]

I've already been considering the addition of a sub-forum for VSA's if enough interest is there.

Can you say "Flame on"? I would advise against it. You don't need the frustration.:suicide:

 

[Tex]

Can you say "Flame on"? I would advise against it. You don't need the frustration.:suicide:

Not necessarily... remember this is not M6. Have we even seen any flame wars here yet?

I'd like to think we have a mature membership here capable of discussing such topics without the flame wars. I just don't see where the issue would be, maybe you could enlighten me?

 

[Urwumpe]

Can you say "Flame on"? I would advise against it. You don't need the frustration.:suicide:

I agree. It can call for trouble, when it comes to the question, which is the best VSA (which is of course, mine.)

But why not implement a VSA in the forum as social group?

 

[Tex]

I agree. It can call for trouble, when it comes to the question, which is the best VSA (which is of course, mine.)

But why not implement a VSA in the forum as social group?

Social Groups are a great idea for VSA's, however they still need a place to discuss like a forum or thread(s). If they don't have their own site/forum already why not have a forum here they could post in? I believe on M6 they were posting threads in the off-topic forum. I think that is too broad of a forum for them to use for such topics when we could easily put a small sub-forum here for all VSA's to post in. We would of course setup some basic rules and the forum would be moderated same as every other forum. Maybe in the VSA rules we could say there will be no topics allowed for "comparing" which VSA is best or what not and instead the forum must be used for constructive VSA discussions.

 

[Star explorer]

Well, I think a basic exam would be a good idea for filtering, but I would suggest also having an academy for training people to pass the exams. maybe this could be used for certification, not only for members (nobody would be in for life anyway), but also for other people.

Alone the very basic stuff about spaceflight is a lot of wood. if the people aren't having a chance to prepare for such a exam, only few people would pass it.

piper i agree with Urwumpe i mean i know how to make addons and missions but i ussaly edit already made scenarios and config files but having an academy of some sort my help me and many other people make there own scenario and config files. plus when i edit config and scenario files i see a lot of stuff i dont understand having an academy would help me and other people uderstand those things

 

[Brad]

Social Groups are a great idea for VSA's, however they still need a place to discuss like a forum or thread(s). If they don't have their own site/forum already why not have a forum here they could post in? I believe on M6 they were posting threads in the off-topic forum. I think that is too broad of a forum for them to use for such topics when we could easily put a small sub-forum here for all VSA's to post in. We would of course setup some basic rules and the forum would be moderated same as every other forum. Maybe in the VSA rules we could say there will be no topics allowed for "comparing" which VSA is best or what not and instead the forum must be used for constructive VSA discussions.

You might want to copy the rules that I created there and see if they apply there. It seems to work.

 

[ryan]

That sounds like a good thing there, but maybe would you like to join our VSA and work with our unmanned space program, were luanching Vuanguard 1 soon date is still being decided and were doing the all mighty Apollo 11 soon too.

 

[Piper]

That sounds like a good thing there, but maybe would you like to join our VSA and work with our unmanned space program, were luanching Vuanguard 1 soon date is still being decided and were doing the all mighty Apollo 11 soon too.

I've thought about it before, but as I've said, I'm not really interested in recreating what others have done (such as Vanguard 1), but to develop new missions from scratch in a matter consistent with how modern space agencies do.

As for training, I'm starting to think having an Academy that anybody could join, where they work on designing simple training missions (like sending a probe to the moon, Earth observation satellites, etc), and then when they feel ready, take the exam and move onto the regular space agency designing the actual missions. Alternatively, if a person feels that they already have enough knowledge, they could skip the academy and go straight to the exam.