Current NSF Forum Feedback Thread 2

[Metalskin]

I would like to add that I think the launch coverage is great. The most recent one was solid gold. I like having the discussion thread and having updates. If anything, it's a shame that the thread cannot be updated closer to real time. Maybe a slack channel would be useful with authorized posts only, and a discussion one (though I think there is a discord channel? I've never gone to look to be honest).

I get most value from updates prior to launch. Being the other side of the world, it's hard to get a sense of potential delays, so getting updates about weather (e.g. wind sheer concerns) and other potential delays is critical to knowing if I will be able to watch a launch live or should give up and go to bed :-)

I also love the multiple posts of different views post launch. It's great to see the crowd reaction, to see the different angles, even to see cameras that inadvertently become tracking cameras.

I think people's use of forums such as this have changed and how they like to interact, partially due to social media and partially due to different generations of people. This is most prob. causing strain on the BBS style forum approach which cannot handle these different types of things.

Despite all the criticism and comments (some of it from me), generally speaking I love this place and think the mods and so on do a fantastic job in a difficult environment.

[ChrisC]

I came into this section looking for something else and saw this thread.  I'm still looking for a way to financially support NSF automatically on a periodic basis, ideally through Patreon,  See constraints above.

Maybe it's just a niche that's not worth NSF's effort to set up, but I'm putting in another plug for it

[catdlr]

I came into this section looking for something else and saw this thread.  I'm still looking for a way to financially support NSF automatically on a periodic basis, ideally through Patreon,  See constraints above.

Maybe it's just a niche that's not worth NSF's effort to set up, but I'm putting in another plug for it

I vote for Patreon, I don't like the cut that YouTube takes away from memberships made through them.

[zubenelgenubi]

I believe L2 requires explicitly renewing every year, and I actually want auto renewal.  Take my money!  Suggestions how?

I think there is (still?) a lifetime L2 membership?  That's the choice that I made years ago.

[Hobbes-22]

As discussed in this thread, currently the forum doesn't have a good place for European commercial space projects.

I think it makes sense to rename the forum section "ESA Launchers - Ariane, Soyuz at CSG, Vega" to "European Launchers" so we can discuss all European projects in this section.

[dglow]

I know there's a ton of tech debt, but when you do meet, please give consideration to using more modern forum software. Xenforo at least, or even better Discourse. SMF is so creaky.

For sure! The question is how to port what is a crazy large database over so that the forum is intact and just on newer software.

It will become a question and a crowdsource of people savvy at such things when the time comes. Thankfully we have some super crazy good programmers working on our channel stuff and backend, so that's a good start. It's very much Mark's baby so he will make the calls on this.

But yes.

Chris, as you probably know ArsTechnica runs a large and very long-lived online forum. In the past few years they completed a long-planned migration off their legacy system and onto XenForo – with the explicit goal of carrying forward the full and complete history of the forums.

Noting this as an example to reference when considering NSF’s own plans. And I’d be more than happy to make an intro to their admin team if you’d like.

[russianhalo117]

I know there's a ton of tech debt, but when you do meet, please give consideration to using more modern forum software. Xenforo at least, or even better Discourse. SMF is so creaky.

For sure! The question is how to port what is a crazy large database over so that the forum is intact and just on newer software.

It will become a question and a crowdsource of people savvy at such things when the time comes. Thankfully we have some super crazy good programmers working on our channel stuff and backend, so that's a good start. It's very much Mark's baby so he will make the calls on this.

But yes.

Chris, as you probably know ArsTechnica runs a large and very long-lived online forum. In the past few years they completed a long-planned migration off their legacy system and onto XenForo – with the explicit goal of carrying forward the full and complete history of the forums.

Noting this as an example to reference when considering NSF’s own plans. And I’d be more than happy to make an intro to their admin team if you’d like.

And we have long time NSF members on here whom work/volunteer for Simple Machines (SMF).

[russianhalo117]

Note SMF Version 2.1.0 and feature patch 2.1.1 was released to General Availability. The forum should hopefully consider making the schueduling arrangements in the near future to perform the SMF software upgrades.
2.1.0
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=580585.0

2.1.1
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=580657.0

Edited for clarity.

2.1.2
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=582201.0

2.1.3
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=584230.0

2.1.4
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=586097.0

Crosslink to the future SMF development road map:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=post;quote=2597547;topic=57136.0;last_msg=2597547

[dglow]

Note SMF Version 2.1.0 and feature patch 2.1.1 was released to General Availability. The forum should hopefully consider making the schueduling arrangements in the near future to perform the SMF software upgrades.
2.1.0
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=580585.0

2.1.1
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=580657.0

Edited for clarity.

2.1.2
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=582201.0

2.1.3
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=584230.0

2.1.4
https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=586097.0

Crosslink to the future SMF development road map:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=post;quote=2597547;topic=57136.0;last_msg=2597547

Better link: https://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=587334.0;all

How well does the 3.0 feature list match up to NSF’s needs?

[ChrisC]

Stumbled across this again.  Still looking for a way to support NSF that fits me:

- not Youtube (no account, and not going to set one up)
- want to provide recurring support, e.g. monthly subscription
- so, not one-time "lifetime" support via L2
- L2's periodic support does not auto-renew, or at least didn't used to
- EDIT: not PayPal, because I don't trust their required connection to my bank account

I manage my support of MANY providers via Patreon and would love if I could support NSF that same way, but if it has to be L2 then fine.  It just needs to auto-renew, preferably monthly but annually is OK.  Help me give NSF my money!

[goretexguy]

Stumbled across this again.  Still looking for a way to support NSF that fits me:

- not Youtube (no account, and not going to set one up)
- want to provide recurring support, e.g. monthly subscription
- so, not one-time "lifetime" support via L2
- L2's periodic support does not auto-renew, or at least didn't used to

I manage my support of MANY providers via Patreon and would love if I could support NSF that same way, but if it has to be L2 then fine.  It just needs to auto-renew, preferably monthly but annually is OK.  Help me give NSF my money!

FWIW, PayPal supports recurring/annual subscription payment models. I have no idea if NSF would want to integrate with PayPal.

[catdlr]

Stumbled across this again.  Still looking for a way to support NSF that fits me:

- not Youtube (no account, and not going to set one up)
- want to provide recurring support, e.g. monthly subscription
- so, not one-time "lifetime" support via L2
- L2's periodic support does not auto-renew, or at least didn't used to

I manage my support of MANY providers via Patreon and would love if I could support NSF that same way, but if it has to be L2 then fine.  It just needs to auto-renew, preferably monthly but annually is OK.  Help me give NSF my money!

Wow, I didn't realize that there isn't an option to support NSF other than L2. I always suspected that NSF had both Patreon and monthly support through YT.

I currently support several sites through Patreon and/or use YT for monthly membership payments. I'm disappointed that NSF doesn't have a Patreon option or another way for members to support this without having to pay for L2 or, in your case, YT.

I'll send a private message to Chris.  I suggest you guys do so too, to support this.

Best
Tony.

[ajmarco]

Stumbled across this again.  Still looking for a way to support NSF that fits me:

- not Youtube (no account, and not going to set one up)
- want to provide recurring support, e.g. monthly subscription
- so, not one-time "lifetime" support via L2
- L2's periodic support does not auto-renew, or at least didn't used to

I manage my support of MANY providers via Patreon and would love if I could support NSF that same way, but if it has to be L2 then fine.  It just needs to auto-renew, preferably monthly but annually is OK.  Help me give NSF my money!

Wow, I didn't realize that there isn't an option to support NSF other than L2. I always suspected that NSF had both Patreon and monthly support through YT.

I currently support several sites through Patreon and/or use YT for monthly membership payments. I'm disappointed that NSF doesn't have a Patreon option or another way for members to support this without having to pay for L2 or, in your case, YT.

I'll send a private message to Chris.  I suggest you guys do so too, to support this.

Best
Tony.

I know its not a recurring option but there if you want to donate without having to go through youtube's interface.

tips.nasaspaceflight.com

[catdlr]

Stumbled across this again.  Still looking for a way to support NSF that fits me:

- not Youtube (no account, and not going to set one up)
- want to provide recurring support, e.g. monthly subscription
- so, not one-time "lifetime" support via L2
- L2's periodic support does not auto-renew, or at least didn't used to

I manage my support of MANY providers via Patreon and would love if I could support NSF that same way, but if it has to be L2 then fine.  It just needs to auto-renew, preferably monthly but annually is OK.  Help me give NSF my money!

Wow, I didn't realize that there isn't an option to support NSF other than L2. I always suspected that NSF had both Patreon and monthly support through YT.

I currently support several sites through Patreon and/or use YT for monthly membership payments. I'm disappointed that NSF doesn't have a Patreon option or another way for members to support this without having to pay for L2 or, in your case, YT.

I'll send a private message to Chris.  I suggest you guys do so too, to support this.

Best
Tony.

I know its not a recurring option but there if you want to donate without having to go through youtube's interface.

tips.nasaspaceflight.com

Thanks, but the requester prefers automating this process rather than doing it manually every month. I have already reached out to Chris, and he is considering it.

[ChrisC]

FWIW, PayPal supports recurring/annual subscription payment models. I have no idea if NSF would want to integrate with PayPal.

Thanks!  I did see that NSF does have a PayPal support method, listed on their "about" page.  However I don't trust PayPal enough to maintain an open bank account connection with them.  And don't want another one-off setup like that anyway, preferring to have it all under Patreon.

I know its not a recurring option but there if you want to donate without having to go through youtube's interface.
tips.nasaspaceflight.com

Yeah, thanks!  That or L2 is going to be my fallback if the Patreon method doesn't materialize.  I'd have to set up a calendar entry to renew my support every 6-12 months, which will be highly susceptible to bitrot.  If course, if L2 can be set up to auto-renew, that'll work!

If ChrisB or another NSF-er reads this, that "tips" method should be added to the "about" page on the website, down at the bottom after the other support methods.  And I'm sorry that I'm a snowflake who doesn't like any of the existing support methods 

(Side note: it is truly impressive how much support NSF gets via superchats on the Youtube live streams.  I'll routinely hear them acknowledging one-time contributions of $50 and $100 and more.  I'm so glad this operation is so well supported!)

[Vultur]

Currently the Missions to the Moon forum subtitle says "dedicated on HSF Missions To The Moon (EM-1 etc.)" and the MSL/Mars 2020 forum subtitle says "also covers build up to Mars 2020 rover". Could these be updated to reference Artemis and ongoing Mars 2020/Perseverance operations please?

There's also InSight threads in the MSL/Mars 2020 forum, so could it be made clear whether that forum is meant to cover all Mars missions or just the two rovers?

[ChrisC]

Giving this a bump in case ChrisB has warmed up to the Patreon idea.

And the "About Us" page on the main website still needs to mention the "Tips" method.

[Docabilly]

Giving this a bump in case ChrisB has warmed up to the Patreon idea.

And the "About Us" page on the main website still needs to mention the "Tips" method.

Ive done YouTube (flight CEO?) since 2019
But for new supports I use patreon directly

[deltaV]

Currently the Missions to the Moon forum subtitle says "dedicated on HSF Missions To The Moon (EM-1 etc.)" and the MSL/Mars 2020 forum subtitle says "also covers build up to Mars 2020 rover". Could these be updated to reference Artemis and ongoing Mars 2020/Perseverance operations please?

Yeah the official section titles and subtitles leave something to be desired. In particular many give examples of what was included many years ago instead of describing what should be included. For example "SLS / Orion / Beyond-LEO HSF - Constellation" seems to actually cover "crewed spaceflight, both US government and topics not associated with any specific organization, except for suborbital".

There's also InSight threads in the MSL/Mars 2020 forum, so could it be made clear whether that forum is meant to cover all Mars missions or just the two rovers?

I usually ignore the titles and subtitles and guess what each section is for based on what threads there are in each and the actions the moderators take. AFAICT there are two Mars sections of the forum, the one titled "Missions To Mars (HSF)" for crewed missions (including supporting uncrewed missions) and the one titled "Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) and Mars 2020 Rover Section" for uncrewed science missions.

[Chris Bergin]

I'll see if I can give it all a spring clean today!

Will post back when done and then you folks can let me know if I missed something!