Mars Settlement: Phase I Summary

[ldyaidan]

One of the big things we are going to need is excitement. Especially teenagers. Remember, today's teenagers are tomorrows engineers, scientists, and space settlers. Infect your friends, relatives, and everyone you know with the "space bug" The more people we have clamoring for space settlement, the better our chances will be of making it happen.<br /><br />Rae

 

[arobie]

ldyaidan,<br /><br />Absolutely, I agree and do follow through.<br /><br />spacester,<br /><br />So what's the news with the website? Is it up yet?

 

[grooble]

Yahoo has a massive directory, we can poach their links.

 

[spacester]

Yeah, we can poach everybody's links and then go find the ones others have missed.<br /><br />grooble's been busy with real life stuff and there was a delay in getting some info to him on my part. Another 24 hours and we'll prolly have a site up.<br /><br />grooble, no need to try to do too much right away. You could just grab the source code for that "Let's Design a Mission to Mars" website, throw that on, and we'll be in business. <br /><br />The plan is to NOT leave it up to the webmaster to do all the work. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[arobie]

<font color="yellow">The plan is to NOT leave it up to the webmaster to do all the work.</font><br /><br />Excellent. That's very important.

 

[ldyaidan]

Ok...Finally getting a little free time to start on the education stuff. Do you want this to be something posted on the website? I'm thinking games, puzzles, projects, etc.... I'm also wanting to a coloring book type thing, with A is for Astronaut type of theme. Anyone with suggestions, etc, please email them to me at ldyaidan@aol.com.<br /><br />Rae

 

[spacester]

Coolness abounds.<br /><br />Yeah, we'll post that on the website, we'll post everything on the website.<br /><br />The web hosting provides just about anything we want for the website. Chat, Bulletin Boards, e-mail accounts, wikis, etc.<br /><br />We just need to get started and decide how to communicate. I'm thinking everyone can have their own section under the domain, your own little virtual webpage.<br /><br />I'll be helping grooble out in the early stages if I can, my knowledge is limited but the tools are top of the line so it should be easy (famous last words). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[arobie]

I envision using wiki's for brainstorming ideas and development. The website will be public outreach. We will need to keep the site professional, but joe-friendly. Sections of it will have our developed ideas and business plans, and they will be broken up, mainly into two sections: the KISS section and the complex section.<br /><br />The KISS section will be where we keep it simple and understandable to all.<br /><br />In the complex section, we can throw in all the numbers, logistics, orbital mechanics....all the complex stuff for those interested.<br /><br />Only after we have sufficiently completed development of what ever it is we are developing can it be put onto the website. We need to work, through the website, to build up credibility.<br /><br />Communication<br /><br />We could soon being to communicate solely through the site and wiki(s) or whatever, but if we do that we could lose something valuable to us. Right now, working over these forums, we can gain new support and advice. It's very open and anyone can stop in to help us. If we move to our own website and wiki(s), we could lose that opportunity because it won't be open to the public.<br /><br />Hmmm....well, the website won't be open, but would the wiki(s) be closed to public? I would guess not. Even if they are open, do you think they would have as much chance to attract new help to this undertaking as these forums have? (That's not rhetorical. I'm asking.)<br /><br />I'm worried about closing ourselves away from the rest of the internet community and losing extra help and input that will not only be appreciated but will also be needed for our growth.

 

[spacester]

Those are all great points, Arobie. I really like the idea of having KISS / complex sections. I'm thinking it might be best to have a KISS page and a complex page for every subject, keep them structured the same so stuff can easily migrate back and forth to keep everything up to date.<br /><br />So we would use the wikis and bulletin boards and chat to hash out stuff too specific or esoteric to discuss here, use the simple and complex sections of the password-protected area to keep track of the current state of the art, and migrate it to the public section of the website upon verification. Did that make sense? I gotta run, no time for a long post. <br /><br />Once we get the site going we can hash the whole communication thing out. <br /><br />The LAST thing we want to do is isolate ourselves from 'outsiders', yet we will need to control access to working areas of our site. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[arobie]

The way I envision it:<br /><br />We would use wikis, bulletin boards, and chat to hash out stuff. They would be open to to everyone who wants to see them. Also anyone who wants to can join and give input.<br /><br />I was thinking of the simple and complex sections being on the public part of the site, but we can have them on both the password-protected area and public area. Information would migrate to the public KISS/complex sections from the private KISS/complex sections if we want to do it that way.<br /><br />Wikis, Bulletin Boards, Chat: Open to be seen by anyone interested, also open for participation.<br /><br />Public part of the site: Open to be seen when we are ready. Only we can edit it.<br /><br />Private Part of the site: Passworded to be seen. Only we can edit it.<br /><br /><font color="yellow">The LAST thing we want to do is isolate ourselves from 'outsiders'...</font><br /><br />Glad to hear it. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br /><font color="yellow">...yet we will need to control access to working areas of our site</font><br /><br />What do you mean?

 

[spacester]

<font color="yellow">What do you mean?</font><br /><br />Just what you said. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> I was referring to exactly what you just stated, yeah, do it just like that, we're on the same page.<br /><br />I don't see a lot of stuff needing to be kept in the private area, but we'll need to have that option from time to time. Pretty much anything along the lines of "let's use this technology", while in the early stages of discussion, should be public, warts and all, so lurkers can follow our progress.<br /><br />It's going to be important to be as open as possible, but we don't want to be sloppy and let ourselves look like idiots either.<br /><br />Things like negotiations with Affiliates and certain other sensitive current business doesn't need to be made available to the whole world. That kind of stuff needs to be monitored by enough individuals to prevent power tripping. The part of Python's Grail's scene 3 I was thinking about was the rotation of the executive office among a group of peers. I.e. the guy in charge this week can make certain executive decisions needed to achieve growth, finalize a deal with a key affiliate, etc.<br /><br />So we want to be very open, as said in the past, but OTOH, we might want to put some of our content in a glass case so a new sponsor (Joe 39 Million) would get a password to more details or prettier pictures or something. Both approaches have merit, I suppose we balance them and try to get the best of both methods.<br /><br />I guess we could develop a series of tiers of access to ACCESS, the more you contribute, the more access you get. I've toyed with that idea and am still on the fence. It's a gimmick. Maybe a good gimmick, but it would be nice to be relatively gimmick free if we can. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[arobie]

Want to be open, but don't want to look like idiots.....I agree.<br /><br />Negotiations with affiliates being private.....I agree.<br /><br />Monty Python Executive office among group of peers.....I agree.<br /><br />Glass case content for supporters.....I see and agree.<br /><br />A series of tiers of access to ACCESS.....I don't agree.<br /><br />Many Joe's probably will not be able to afford to support us at the higher levels. I don't think this should limit what they can see and know. We appreciate all donations, and the most basic reward for for any donation should be access to the site. ACCESS needs to be accessible.

 

[dan_casale]

>>A series of tiers of access to ACCESS.....I don't agree.<br />Many Joe's probably will not be able to afford to support us at the higher levels. I don't think this should limit what they can see and know. We appreciate all donations, and the most basic reward for for any donation should be access to the site. ACCESS needs to be accessible.<<<br /><br />I vote with Arobie on this one. If you are going to put your $$ where your mouth is, you should get to see what we are doing, even if we have an idiot moment. If we look like idiots maybe they will pitch in and help us if we can show we have a good idea. Anyone who doesn't like our idea will most likely call us an idiot anyway. Let them start their own club.

 

[spacester]

Agreed and well said, both of you. I didn't like the tier approach much either, for the same reasons, I guess it was just a double-check that we're all on the same page.<br /><br />Speaking of pages, we have a new toy!<br /><br />Now we just need to figure out how to use it . . .<br /><br />Nice job, grooble! <br /><br />I guess I'm co-webmaster for now, so I'll try to set up the bulletin boards enough so we can talk. I'll try not to screw it up, no guarantees it won't need to be reconfigured later. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[spacester]

Wow that was as easy as I could have hoped.<br /><br />Here are our new Bulletin Boards. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[arobie]

Whoa! That is sweet!<br /><br />I love the header at the top! <br /><br />The page format is exactly the type I was thinking of. It is professional, not flashy.<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />What can I do to help out? Anything?

 

[arobie]

Bulletin boards too, awesome!<br /><br />Excellent job grooble and spacester!

 

[arobie]

Red- Parts I'm taking out.<br />Orange- Parts I'm adding in.<br />----------------------------------------------<br /><br />Rough Draft Idea, Home Page: the term includes not only us, it also includes you<br /><br />Welcome to ACCESS Space Foundation.<br /><br />"ACCESS" is our acronym: Active Citizens for the Cultivation, Exploration and Settlement of Space. <br /><br />That is who we are and what we are for. We are normal citizens who want to take an active role in building our future. We will do so by working to cultivate, explore, and settle space. In fact, "active role" might be too weak of a term. We want to do it ourselves, and we have a plan <font color="orange">for just that.</font><font color="red">to do it too.</font><br /><br />In the acronym is the word "Citizens". <font color="red">That is</font><font color="orange">The term includes</font>not only us, <font color="red">It is</font><font color="orange">but also</font>you. <font color="red">too</font> This project will be a citizen's project, put on by us <i>and</i> you. You can take an active role. You can do this too. <br /><br />Well I guess there is a lot of explaining that needs to be done. Stick around. Explore the site. Everything will come to be explained. Don't forget, this was put on and built up by active citizens, just like yourself.<br /><br />We are beginning a journey, a journey to the future, and we ask you to join us to make it happen.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Joe Space<br /><br />We go to Settle Mars, Play on the Moon, and Exploit the Asteroids.

 

[spacester]

<img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[arobie]

I'm proof-reading now. The things I want to take out are highlighted in red. The things to replace them are in orange. Anything y'all want to change? Something that could sound better. Nitpick. The home page is the most important page. It <b>needs</b> to look good. <br /><br />Also this is just a proposal. Any other ideas for the home page?

 

[spacester]

'nother draft: (It's too long, huh?)<br /><br />Welcome to ACCESS Space Foundation. <br /><br />"ACCESS" is our acronym: Active Citizens for the Cultivation, Exploration and Settlement of Space. <br /><br />That is who we are and what we are for. We are normal citizens who want to take an active role in building our future. We are doing so by working to cultivate, explore, and settle space. In fact, "active role" might be too weak of a term. <br /><br />What we plan to create are those things that are needed to become a space-faring civilization. We plan to speed up the schedule of space development, faster than NASA can make it happen without our help. By gathering the efforts and funds of common citizens, we intend to make these the years that see us go to space in earnest. <br /><br />We plan to work with students of all ages all across America to enrich their educational experience. The entire spectrum of sciences are needed to become space-faring, and of course engineering will recieve a much needed boost from our efforts. Our educational outreach is a huge part of who we are.<br /><br />Without strong American efforts, the rest of the world just might leave the USA in the dust of space. We don't need to be the superpower of space, but we don't want the USA to get left behind either.<br /><br />We want all the nations of the Earth to become Space-Faring. We're counting on American know-how and persistence to play the key role.<br /><br />The acronym starts with "Citizens". That's us, that's you, that's a whole lot of other people coming together and creating our own space program. This project is a citizen's project, put together by us and you. You can take an active role. You can do this too. There is plenty of work for all of us, real work focused on real progress real soon.<br /><br />We have a lot of explaining to do. Stick around. Explore the site. We'll try to explain everything, there's a lot to talk about here. Don't forget, this was put on and built up by active citizen <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[arobie]

Much better. Thank You!<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />The only suggestion I have is to find another word for 'chores'.<br /><br /><font color="yellow">There are plenty of chores for those who join us, real work focused on real progress real soon.</font><br /><br />How about 'tasks'.<br /><br />Everything else is perfect. I wouldn't change a thing.<br /><br />------<br /><br />Looks good. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[ldyaidan]

I agree. It looks great! I haven't had time to sign into the message boards over there yet, but I will over the weekend. Let me know what I can to do help. I don't have a lot of tech skills, but will be happy to help proofread and edit.<br /><br />Rae

 

[arobie]

Are the message boards public forums for visitors from the site, or are they developmental forums for us?

 

[spacester]

There has been a short delay in moving forward because I was unsure about grooble's plans. I'm not sure if he wants to be an active webmaster but at this point in time I'm going to assume not. I didn't want to go mucking around the site admin stuff until grooble had a chance, but I guess I'm in charge now.<br /><br />So I'm going to post this and then start playing webmaster (for the first time ever, yikes!). grooble, thanks for all the help, I guess we'll take it from here.<br /><br />Hey Arobie, do you want to be co-webmaster?<br /><br />To answer your question, I think we need to set the forums up as both at the same time. We should talk about that some more. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>