Author Topic: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday  (Read 14018 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« on: 03/28/2007 02:36 pm »
Just wanted to mark the site's move into its third year of operations today by thanking our readership.

While I've got unlimited levels of ambition for where I want to take this media site, I honestly did not envision that we've be turning over the level of visitations - which are still rising at a rate of about 10 percent a month - on a site that is totally space flight specific.

I've made a point of mentioning that, not in praise of this site, but to note the level of interest that is obviously out there for space flight.

A bit of housekeeping:

We now have a new "About us" page - which is going to get a few more additions next week:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/about/

We have a new L2 intro page (L2 is our absolute pride and joy):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/

We have some new items in our store:
http://www.cafepress.com/nasaspaceflight/1268861

Feel free to ask any questions about the site!
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Martin FL

  • Elite Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2460
  • Liked: 137
  • Likes Given: 278
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #1 on: 03/28/2007 02:50 pm »
Brilliant site, especially L2 which is amazing. Many congratulations to Chris and all involved.

Offline Peter NASA

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1294
  • SOMD
  • Liked: 8747
  • Likes Given: 98
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #2 on: 03/28/2007 03:38 pm »
Congratulations. This is an excellent site.

Offline Captain Scarlet

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 272
  • Cambridgeshire, England
  • Liked: 4
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #3 on: 03/28/2007 04:46 pm »
Happy Birthday!!

Offline Carl G

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Full Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1141
  • Liked: 260
  • Likes Given: 140
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #4 on: 03/28/2007 05:37 pm »
Very nice About Us page. Well done on a fantastic site.

Offline charlieb

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 618
  • King of Prussia, PA, USA
  • Liked: 3
  • Likes Given: 10
RE: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #5 on: 03/28/2007 05:48 pm »

Chris,

As I celebrate today my own personal birthday in addition to 'yours' (not telling my age - HA ..), my best wishes to NASASpaceflight.com's #3!!!  And best wishes for many-many more future birthdays as well.

Cheers!

Charlie
Former Shuttle Mission Ops Eng  (In them days DF24 - INCO GROUP/COMMS, Now DS231-AVIONICS BRANCH).

Offline Jason Davies

  • Regular
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1089
  • Liked: 66
  • Likes Given: 75
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #6 on: 03/28/2007 06:59 pm »
Best site that covers space flight for sure. Well done to all.

Offline Tahii

  • Fetch me a fix of anesthetic
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 383
  • Lurking around the Awarua Space Tracking Station
  • Invercargill, New Zealand
  • Liked: 2
  • Likes Given: 12
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #7 on: 03/28/2007 07:14 pm »
Ka pai for a fantastic website that seems to mature well with age! Things just keep getting better and better around here.

Offline paulhbell07

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 450
  • South Yorkshire
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 7
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #8 on: 03/28/2007 07:32 pm »
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear NASAspaceflight.com
Happy birthday to you


I was going to sing, but if I did I think members would complain and leave the site.

Offline Stephan

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 565
  • Paris
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #9 on: 03/28/2007 07:52 pm »
Congratulation for the awesome job Chris.
Best regards, Stephan

Offline MATTBLAK

  • Elite Veteran & 'J.A.F.A'
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5362
  • 'Space Cadets' Let us; UNITE!! (crickets chirping)
  • New Zealand
  • Liked: 2239
  • Likes Given: 3883
RE: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #10 on: 03/28/2007 08:05 pm »
Well done, Chris well done!!

'Best in show', for sure.
"Those who can't, Blog".   'Space Cadets' of the World - Let us UNITE!! (crickets chirping)

Offline Launch Fan

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1317
  • Liked: 59
  • Likes Given: 44
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #11 on: 03/28/2007 09:31 pm »
Love this site and L2 especially.

Offline vt_hokie

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3054
  • Hazlet, NJ
  • Liked: 118
  • Likes Given: 436
RE: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #12 on: 03/28/2007 09:49 pm »
Congrats!  Great job on the site!

Offline lsullivan411

  • NASASpaceflight KSC Photographer
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1399
  • Liked: 75
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #13 on: 03/28/2007 10:32 pm »
Congratulations Chris!  Wish I had found it sooner, thanks for all the hard work you and other contributers do, L2 is worth every penney and more.  Best wishes in year 4 and beyond!

Offline TJL

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1368
  • Liked: 95
  • Likes Given: 159
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #14 on: 03/28/2007 10:34 pm »
Congratulations on a fantastic web-site!
Keep up the great work!

Offline Seattle Dave

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 979
  • Liked: 51
  • Likes Given: 48
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #15 on: 03/28/2007 10:35 pm »
Is everyone on L2?! It is a very special area and there's nothing that can touch it for value for money. A great site for all and even if you're not on L2, it's still better than anything else out there.

Question about the site. There's lots of NASA and space industry people on here, but do we know how many? Is it trackable?

Offline astrobrian

  • NSF Photographer
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2922
  • Austin Texas
  • Liked: 23
  • Likes Given: 112
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #16 on: 03/28/2007 10:36 pm »
Congrats to all associated with this site. I have been lucky to see this site grow over the last 13 months, and it just keeps growing.  Glad to be a part of it, now, and in its bright future :)

Offline GioFX

  • Regular
  • Member
  • Posts: 93
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #17 on: 03/28/2007 10:50 pm »
Heay, we applaud NSF.com 3rd birthday.

Congrats!

Offline texas_space

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 393
  • Ex Terra, Scientia
  • Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, USA
  • Liked: 2
  • Likes Given: 8
RE: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #18 on: 03/28/2007 11:49 pm »
Congratulations to Chris and all the other NSF folks, this is a fantastic site

May your success continue for many years to come!

James
"We went to the moon nine times. Why fake it nine times, if we faked it?" - Charlie Duke

Offline marsguy

  • Regular
  • Member
  • Posts: 70
  • GSFC
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #19 on: 03/29/2007 12:04 am »
Congratulations on three great years!

Proud to be a member of such an informative site. :)

Offline Gary

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #20 on: 03/29/2007 12:22 am »
Congratulations and thank you for such an amazing site. Thanks also to those who work in the industry and share their knowledge.

Offline vt_hokie

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3054
  • Hazlet, NJ
  • Liked: 118
  • Likes Given: 436
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #21 on: 03/29/2007 12:22 am »
Quote
Seattle Dave - 28/3/2007  6:35 PM

Is everyone on L2?! It is a very special area and there's nothing that can touch it for value for money.

I don't have a paypal account, and never looked into how to use paypal (though I'm sure it'd take all of 5 minutes).  But I hear great things!  :)


Offline Chris Bergin

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #22 on: 03/29/2007 12:28 am »
Quote
vt_hokie - 29/3/2007  1:22 AM

Quote
Seattle Dave - 28/3/2007  6:35 PM

Is everyone on L2?! It is a very special area and there's nothing that can touch it for value for money.

I don't have a paypal account, and never looked into how to use paypal (though I'm sure it'd take all of 5 minutes).  But I hear great things!  :)


You don't need paypal. You just enter your card details like on any other online purchase :)
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #23 on: 03/29/2007 12:29 am »
Quote
Seattle Dave - 28/3/2007  11:35 PM


Question about the site. There's lots of NASA and space industry people on here, but do we know how many? Is it trackable?

This has been the biggest surprise (this is just stats from the news pages - not forum):

Stats showing where people are entering the site from which domain.
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline jmjawors

  • Old Skool Scratchin'
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 900
  • Saint Louis
  • Liked: 9
  • Likes Given: 20
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #24 on: 03/29/2007 12:34 am »
Those stats speak volumes.

Happy 3rd!
.:: Matt ::.

Offline Delta Manager

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 106
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #25 on: 03/29/2007 01:20 am »
Very nice work. Great site.

Offline Tahii

  • Fetch me a fix of anesthetic
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 383
  • Lurking around the Awarua Space Tracking Station
  • Invercargill, New Zealand
  • Liked: 2
  • Likes Given: 12
RE: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #26 on: 03/29/2007 02:05 am »
Quote
dsl - 29/3/2007  12:27 PM

Three years?

They grow up so fast.
Just don't let them run away and leave home! We want this one to stay right where it is!

Offline marsavian

  • Elite Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3216
  • Liked: 2
  • Likes Given: 3
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #27 on: 03/29/2007 02:50 am »
Quote
vt_hokie - 28/3/2007  7:22 PM

Quote
Seattle Dave - 28/3/2007  6:35 PM

Is everyone on L2?! It is a very special area and there's nothing that can touch it for value for money.

I don't have a paypal account, and never looked into how to use paypal (though I'm sure it'd take all of 5 minutes).  But I hear great things!  :)


You don't actually need a paypal account even though the credit card payment is through them.

Offline Jackson

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 288
  • Liked: 18
  • Likes Given: 7
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #28 on: 03/29/2007 03:11 am »
Happy Birthday!

On L2, I just wanted to support the site, as we all should. Turned out to be the best thing I've ever paid for on the net. And all I had to do was to fill in my card details on the secure payment section paypal has, no sign up or anything, same as anywhere else.

Offline Avron

  • Canadian Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4930
  • Liked: 156
  • Likes Given: 160
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #29 on: 03/29/2007 03:20 am »
Wow, three years.. amazing how time flys..
Them status do speak volumns. (BTW 21 on the list is Canadian)

Congratulations  Chris and team

Offline Shuttle Man

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 498
  • KSC
  • Liked: 28
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #30 on: 03/29/2007 04:17 am »
Very impressive site that has filled a void. Here's to many more years.
Ex-Apollo, waiting for NASA to finish what we started.

Offline STS Tony

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1677
  • Los Angeles
  • Liked: 53
  • Likes Given: 106
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #31 on: 03/29/2007 05:36 am »
I was starting to get bored with space flight until this site came around. Now I feel like writing to Congress. That's my compliment on how awesome this site is.

Online Satori

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 14425
  • Campo do Gerês - Portugal
  • Liked: 1969
  • Likes Given: 1156
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #32 on: 03/29/2007 09:40 am »
Happy Birthday to NASASpaceflight.com! Muitos Parabéns!

Offline SimonShuttle

  • Elite Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1795
  • Manchester, England
  • Liked: 44
  • Likes Given: 89
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #33 on: 03/29/2007 12:57 pm »
Been here from the start! Stunning how this site has built up from nothing and then being to the level where lots of real NASA people are regulars.

Offline CuddlyRocket

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #34 on: 03/29/2007 01:01 pm »
Excellent site. Brilliant job. Congratulations.

And it's going to get better? Should be fun! :)

Offline rumble

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 584
  • Conway, AR
  • Liked: 11
  • Likes Given: 34
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #35 on: 03/29/2007 01:15 pm »
Cheers!  

The constant pursuit of excellence and effort given to run a clean site are quite obvious.  The success of this site should be no surprise!

I want to pass on congratulations to Chris and the NSF team that helps build & maintain the site and gather information that is often shared only with this site.  Thanks also to those in the aerospace industry that contribute on a regular basis to the discussions.  It all works together to be what it is, and what it is is wonderful.

Matt

Offline uko

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 293
  • Tallinn, Estonia
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 3
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #36 on: 03/29/2007 01:19 pm »
The fenomenon that makes this site unique for me is the level of expertize the members have and the level of commitment Chris and his team have put into this.

Happy birthday NSF!

Uko
In theory, there's no difference between theory and practice, but in practice, there is !

Offline modavis

  • Regular
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 103
  • Langhorne, PA
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #37 on: 03/29/2007 02:13 pm »

Thank you, Chris, and congratulations.

The participation by people from government programs and established aerospace contractors is one of the major attractions for me, because so much of the online "mindspace for space" is filled with reflexive bashing of them and all their works, and amazing people enthusiasm for alt.space or New Space or Anything But NASA.

I understand the impatience and frustration that push people in that direction; I certainly take a longer and more jaded view of government programs and their contractors than I did forty years ago. But I've never doubted for a moment that those who work for them have real expertise and professional integrity worthy of respect, or a commitment to space at least as strong as that of their critics.    

 


Offline Jester

  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7979
  • Earth
  • Liked: 6533
  • Likes Given: 157
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #38 on: 03/29/2007 02:28 pm »
Time goes fast, here is to many more !
Cheers

Offline ShuttleDiscovery

  • NASA's first teenage astronaut
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2125
  • UK
    • Shuttle Discovery's Space Page
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #39 on: 03/29/2007 02:46 pm »
Happy Birthday NSF! :)

Offline David AF

  • F-22 Raptor Instructor / Fighter Pilot
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 824
  • Liked: 16
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #40 on: 03/29/2007 03:25 pm »
Many congratulations on entering your third year. This site is a revalation and an integral driving force behind reigniting interest in space flight and not soley on what seems to be the fashion with alt space. This is an all guns blazing version for NASA. Long may it live on and grow. I echo the comments about L2 also, which is amazing on many levels.
F-22 Raptor instructor

Offline stefan1138

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 269
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #41 on: 03/29/2007 07:57 pm »
Happy Birthday dear NSF!  Herzlichen Glueckwunsch :)

There is no place else on the net where you can get that close to the space industry and to NASA!

Stefan :)

Offline Jonesy STS

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 206
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #42 on: 03/29/2007 08:48 pm »
Penblwydd Hapus :)

Offline outward

  • Member
  • Member
  • Posts: 90
  • Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #43 on: 03/30/2007 01:34 am »
Yes...great job Chris (and to everyone that plays a role).....say, is the history of this forum posted some where? (How, why was it started?). Be interesting to know about its genesis.

Both through reading the forums and posting I get a sense of contributing to our (world)space movement.......which is why I'm glad to have found this site.

 

The Moon first; she's right there, made of stuff we need, and it moves us to a two planet species.

Offline Hunt101

  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 271
  • ULA
  • Liked: 2273
  • Likes Given: 54
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #44 on: 03/30/2007 02:39 am »
Only recently heard about this site, but it is by far the best space flight site around.

Offline Jamie Young

  • This custom rank is currently being decided on
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1327
  • Denver
  • Liked: 52
  • Likes Given: 151
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #45 on: 03/30/2007 04:57 am »
Same as everyone else really. But this is a good opportunity for questions.

What are the plans for the future?

What would you say to anyone who is thinking about setting up a site themselves?

Offline eeergo

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #46 on: 03/30/2007 10:01 am »
This site provides us with so many space news and such interesting discussions about them that time really vanishes! These 2 and a half years I passed here (almost every day I could have a computer) have allowed me to learn so much! Thanks to everyone that made that possible, and especially to Chris, for having this GREAT idea and the huge constancy to keep it running and improving at an amazing rate!

Just as an example, one of my first posts was noting that P3-P4 was being moved in the SSPF, when what was really being moved was a support crane... and now I have "SSMEs Bibles" and know what a MBSU is ;)
-DaviD-

Offline anik

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7776
  • Liked: 955
  • Likes Given: 368
RE: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #47 on: 03/30/2007 01:47 pm »
Congratulations NASASpaceflight.com and its team!... :)

NSF has very little age, but outstanding success!... :)

I wish you here:

More good news :)
No unfriendly discussions :angry:
More people from space industry  ;)
No (server) problems :(
More internal documents ;)
Less politics :angry:
More women and kids :bleh:
And more sleep (for Chris) :o
And and more sponsors (for website) :)

Offline Chris Bergin

RE: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #48 on: 03/30/2007 02:17 pm »
Quote
anik - 30/3/2007  2:47 PM

I wish you here....
And more sleep (for Chris) :o

What's sleep? ;)

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone. I'm not the back slapping type, so please use this for any questions of where we're going etc.
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Jeff Bingham

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1592
  • aka "51-D Mascot"
  • Liked: 38
  • Likes Given: 56
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #49 on: 03/30/2007 02:45 pm »
This site makes an invaluable contribution to the dialogue on spaceflight at ALL levels, and REALLY has a positive impact!

Congratulations and a huge THANK YOU to Chris and his team--and to all those who come here and help enlighten us all!
Offering only my own views and experience as a long-time "Space Cadet."

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #50 on: 03/31/2007 05:22 am »
Quote
Jamie Young - 30/3/2007  5:57 AM

Same as everyone else really. But this is a good opportunity for questions.

What are the plans for the future?

What would you say to anyone who is thinking about setting up a site themselves?

Okay dokey...

Plans for the future are expansive, but one has to carry our expansion at a certain pace, so as not to have a negative effect on the rest of the site. We are certainly looking at net TV, and we're in talks with a company on that regard. We're also looking at closer commercial deals with space industry companies. However, although I've very proud of the site as it stands, I've mapped out a very ambitious future, which is going to take time. There's a lot more to come yet.

As to anyone thinking of setting up a site, well that depends on the level of coverage you're looking to provide, and what style of site.

Blog sites are free to set up, and that sort of site allows you to update content in your free time. Never any harm in giving that a go, so I would encourage everyone to at least give it a try.

This site obviously isn't a blog site, by way of it being set up from the start as a professional and commercially viable news media site. There's a number of dangers associated with that, and I would strongly advise anyone taking this route to map out the timeline of expansion and the level of content and services you will be providing.

It's not inexpensive to do, really it isn't. If you don't have a strong personal financial position, it really can become an issue really fast, as it's not just the site costs through design, programming, servers, database servers, hosting and maintenance, but if you're going to be doing this on the professional level, then you need to remember it's going to be your career and livelihood. I've learned that lesson - and still learning - the hard way, I can tell you!

Advertising is no longer the major revenue stream for heavily read sites (unless they are very specific to areas like gambling, real estate, loans etc.) So you need to map out areas of services that ensures the site is viable.

It won't be long until the bulk of sites turn into subscription only based sites imho, although the model of having a special - high value - subscription service, allowing for the rest of the site to remain free and open to all, is viable in my opinion.

In the case of this site, L2 allows for that, paying for the site as a whole - thus allowing the rest of the site to be free - while providing a kick ass service to those that pay for L2.  Other sites have similar models, although I believe L2 is the best online subscription service on a space related site, and by some margin. Without the valued L2 membership, this site would have closed due to me totally running out of money.

So if you're an L2 member, or something thinking of becoming one, remember, it's not just the service you're gaining, but you're directly helping this site continue and grow.

You've also got to be totally committed to the site. Forget about vacations, especially with media related sites if you're running it. Be prepared to work seven days a week, from the minute you get up to the minute you go to bed. At the same time don't kill yourself in the process, take breaks, do other things, as you'll end up burning out and your work on the site will become stagnated, but you really need to be dedicated to your site.

Personally that's not a problem for me as it is an absolutely honor to cover this subject matter, really it is, and I think that's the key. If you really enjoy it, you'll find committing pretty easy.

I also think it's very important to communicate with your readership. It's also important to build a team you can trust and rely on..........in the case of this site, we have a GREAT team, which has been integral to the site's growth.

I really could go on and on about this all, but I hope that helps.
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Firestarter

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #51 on: 03/31/2007 07:14 am »
Who designed the site? It's very clean and easy to navigate.

Offline Spiff

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 716
  • Utrecht - The Netherlands
  • Liked: 28
  • Likes Given: 3
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #52 on: 03/31/2007 12:39 pm »
I concur with just about everybody that has responded on this thread before me.

Congrats to Chris and all the other NSF teammembers! Keep up the great work!
I always consider space to be the FIRST frontier.

Offline Radioheaded

  • Minister of Silly Walks
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 154
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 118
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #53 on: 03/31/2007 02:56 pm »
This site is incredible!  I've learned so much from not only the content (i.e L2) but also the pros that post here.  So I'm very grateful to Chris and the NSF team, and the industry folks who are gracious enough to answer our questions :)  :)

One question for Chris (not sure if it has been discussed before) but what motivated you to start this site?
I know only enough to know that I don't know....

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #54 on: 03/31/2007 05:26 pm »
Quote
Firestarter - 31/3/2007  8:14 AM

Who designed the site? It's very clean and easy to navigate.

Matt Shipley and his team at Covalent built the site and the backend.

Resdesign was carried out by current webmaster Matthew Brophy, with another redesign and continued refinements by Mark Gerrits (current webmaster and site director).
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #55 on: 03/31/2007 06:07 pm »
Quote
Radioheaded - 31/3/2007  3:56 PM

One question for Chris (not sure if it has been discussed before) but what motivated you to start this site?

Due to lack of being able to find a site that specifically covered space flight in the style of full on, nothing but, everything you want to find and more. Also, all the message boards were dominated by off topic discussion and random "scrap the shuttle" rubbish.

There's a lot of space sites, but a lot of it is astronomy or space science dominated. Nothing wrong with that of course, but it was nigh on impossible to follow Return to Flight on a daily basis....you'd have to rely on CBS' Bill Harwood and snippets of insider news from Shuttle Guy on SDC.

Knew some USA managers and ET guys at KSC, who I talked to by e-mail, and they were saying the same things about the media, with lots of "it shows no one is interested" - which I didn't agree with - and "NASA.gov isn't pushing space flight" etc. Eventually got to know some NASA guys through them, so knew a decent group of guys in the field.

Already being journalist and broadcaster, I was doing media work as a full time job and simply got together with these USA and NASA guys and suggested that if there was a decent flow of information that could be written up, then I could start up a media site, specific to space flight, with the main area of coverage being the shuttle and different to what was already out there. They were hugely supportive.

Due to their encouragement I was getting a bit carried away, threw money I really didn't have, heh, into getting this site built professionally, rather than starting up a blog site (which would have been the correct move to test the waters and not commit a load of cash).

The timing was right, it was long enough after Columbia, and earlier enough before STS-114, so went for it. The rest is another story, but the above was the motivation (shortish version).
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline dwmzmm

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 733
  • Far West Houston, TX
    • Challenger 498 NAR Section
  • Liked: 5
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #56 on: 03/31/2007 09:12 pm »
Congrats, Chris, for an excellent all around space exploration site!  Wish I had known this place was here earlier.  At least, we have something in
common; my birthday also falls in March (25)...

What really amazes me is we can have friendly discussion with others from all over the world.  Again, congratulations and best of luck in the future.
Dave, NAR # 21853 SR.

Offline Stowbridge

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 426
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #57 on: 03/31/2007 11:00 pm »
This is super site. Looking at that list on page 2, did you aim to get so many NASA, ULA and so on visitors?
Veteran space reporter.

Offline Joey

  • Member
  • Member
  • Posts: 33
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 8
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #58 on: 04/01/2007 01:05 am »
I've just been a member for a short while, but this site is indeed one of my top 5 favorite sites.

Happy Birthday and congratulations!   :)

Offline Peter NASA

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1294
  • SOMD
  • Liked: 8747
  • Likes Given: 98
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #59 on: 04/01/2007 01:52 am »
Quote
Stowbridge - 31/3/2007  6:00 PM

This is super site. Looking at that list on page 2, did you aim to get so many NASA, ULA and so on visitors?

If I can interject, this site is very useful in that regard for people like myself.

1) It's a boost to know there's so many people who are interested and follow the program. 2) You can talk without fear of having to put your name to your comment, making this one big cross agency/cross engineering water cooler. 3) The community is excellent, from the youngsters asking questions, to the experienced sharing their stories and opinions. 4) The news is very ahead of the curve, driven by L2, which means all benefit and increases the interest in the site.

There's nothing out there that comes close to this site on a number of levels. Best wishes for many, many more successful years.

Offline Rocket Ronnie

  • Regular
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 176
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #60 on: 04/02/2007 01:34 pm »
Quote
Stowbridge - 31/3/2007  6:00 PM

This is super site. Looking at that list on page 2, did you aim to get so many NASA, ULA and so on visitors?

Good question.

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #61 on: 04/02/2007 01:40 pm »
Quote
Rocket Ronnie - 2/4/2007  2:34 PM

Quote
Stowbridge - 31/3/2007  6:00 PM

This is super site. Looking at that list on page 2, did you aim to get so many NASA, ULA and so on visitors?

Good question.

Well we did 'aim' although I had no idea this many would turn up. One of the most motivating elements of running the site.
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Polecat

  • Member
  • Member
  • Posts: 75
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #62 on: 04/03/2007 05:10 am »
Very great site. Many more birthdays to come!

Offline E_ E_ H

  • Fascinated
  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 395
  • Southampton, UK
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #63 on: 04/05/2007 09:11 am »
This site is absolutely outstanding. I used to go to NASA.gov for information, but now realise how slow that site really is at spreading info. I've not been there since I joined L2, except maybe to see how long it takes for information to get there. I think there's a lesson there for them and for other Space agencies like ESA. If they kept their information current and dynamic, I think Space flight and science overall could only benefit. Keep up the great work Chris, and be assured of everyone's continuing support.
Ground control to Major Chris....

Offline Justin Space

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1368
  • England
  • Liked: 91
  • Likes Given: 293
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #64 on: 04/05/2007 12:17 pm »
Quote
E_ E_ H - 5/4/2007  4:11 AM

This site is absolutely outstanding. I used to go to NASA.gov for information, but now realise how slow that site really is at spreading info. I've not been there since I joined L2, except maybe to see how long it takes for information to get there. I think there's a lesson there for them and for other Space agencies like ESA. If they kept their information current and dynamic, I think Space flight and science overall could only benefit. Keep up the great work Chris, and be assured of everyone's continuing support.

Very good point. I wonder if NASA realised there was enough of an audience. If they didn't, they do now.

Offline publiusr

  • Elite Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1539
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: NASASpaceflight.com's Third Birthday
« Reply #65 on: 04/23/2007 11:24 pm »
Happy Birthday NSF

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1