I'm looking to create a website/company advocating development in space-faring technology, colonization, and exploration, related science news/discoveries, ect. I don't know much aside from basic HTML and CSS, and don't know what would be the best format/language to create the site in. I also would like to find other minds who are also interested in such topics to help with development if they are interested.

Eventually (although I'm not quite ready for it) I'd like to have a website that will:

• Function as a forum for related discussions.
• Include a member only/donor forum.
• Include a blog of various contributors, or an article aggrigator (similar to hubpages?)
• Have a 'store' where various supporting items can be bought (t shirts, sweatshirts, posters, ect).
• Can support video embedding

I'm looknig for input on both website design/implimentation, and content related suggestions.

I would like to eventually establish a nationwide group/college club that collaborates with other groups and helps develop and discuss space related technologies, theory, news, ect.

I've seen some interesting private companies such as:
http://www.planetaryresources.com/ --> Potentially going to try to mine asteroids for mineral resources (platinum, iron, gold, ect). Launched a crowdfunded satellite already!

http://www.mars-one.com/en/ --> Trying to get a colony to mars by 2023



Thanks for reading. I'll updare the thread with goals, general ideas, website concept ideas, and anything else I can think of. Please PM me if you're interested in any of these topics and would like to discuss any of them.




Edit: Also taking company/website name suggestions!

This post was edited by Blankey on Sep 9 2013 10:19am

In my opinion html5 is the best choice to start make first page.

Thanks for the input. Will send fg for constructive detailed answers/suggestions/input.

Feel free to pm me whenever about any specific questions/input. Looking for others who have similar interests in the concept (space advocacy, crowd funding research/small satellites, space tech development, space mining research, ect) to start a pre-site email list with people interested in:

Would want people to pm me with emails and the 'letter' they'd be interested in (if any apply). Make the subject the letter you choose (for letters aside from a, send me some info about yourself [academics/interests/about you, your ideas/suggestions, what you can contribute, ect).

a) Who would want to be on a mailing list for a website with the aforementioned content. (would only email the list once the website is up and running, and maybe one test email). For now just pm me the info.
Helping create and manage the site *may pay for if you can give me examples of websites you've created, ect* (Must really want to be involved in something bigger, talk on skype, collaborate, talk business, ect. Learning coding as I develop the idea, 1-3 hours a day.)
c) Would want to contribute with content/administrating the forums, and contributing information to the site (must be unbiased, insightful/knowledgeable/intelligent, understanding/calm, responsible, and have a real want to be involved in a space-oriented forum that may crowd-funded ideas, and may eventually become an incorporated business/non-profit of some sort in addition).
d)Engineers/Electronic/tech savvy people to begin to run a collaborated network on some projects. Working on getting some people together from my University. Eventually I'd want to create multiple groups for multiple synchronized projects. Maybe one or two physics/mathematical oriented people, as well as any astrophysics related majors.
e)Email if you want to ask a question, have a suggestion/input, or anything I haven't mentioned.

This is about wanting to drive the human race forward into space, to be part of something that contributes to it, and actually enjoying talking about, as well as being knowledgeable in the topic.

http://www.physicsforums.com/

check there

this is not a small project, this is going to cost you some $$ out of pocket, and this is going to take a while to build. I can help point you in the right direction on how to get some of it up quickly, but to make the whole site cohesive and properly fucntional, its going to take quite a bit of time, $$ and a few special web developers that share your passion(as these projects are going to need some passionate people to help you). your best bet it=s to start off wth a basic wordpress template expand from there just to get the info up asap.

Thanks for the input. Would starting a site via wordpress look bad, or hurt me in the long run? Would it prevent me from using a certain template/style or prevent me from establishing an independant website with the same userbase later on?

What kind of cost are we talking (ballpark me).





noted as a possible resource for physics oriented minds. thank you.

Wordpress shouldnt hurt you, when it updates it could be annoying and might undermine some of the customization you have done. You can create and add any of your own custom templates and css styles, but so long as you are customizing and creating your own files they should be fine when wordpress updates. Editing or customizing the wordpress core or templates isn't recommended as it would be erased when it updated. Not sure the part about the userbase, it's actually an issue I also need to learn so ill check this thread back and see if you get any good answers. Gl the idea is worthwhile and interesting, tired of hearing people talk about celebrities and money and artificial bullshit when we got challenges like exploring space to deal with.

I charge by the hour but for a ballpark figure around 3-4k will get you your entire site with full functionality that you want. I could have this done in a week to a week and a half depending on communication and how extensive you want your design.