ISA - A Little History

[garyw]

When I first started playing orbiter I felt a need to keep track of my missions, to keep track of what I was using and to give it some context. to that end I decided to form a single person VSA and so ISA was born.

The name comes from a Star Trek Voyager episode and I liked the idea of an International VSA because it opens up a lot of options with various countries space hardware and missions. It helps make it all nicely open-ended.

Since that time I have expanded ISA as and when I have time but I do not get enough time to fly regularly or to use it as a full on sim NASA style VSA. in fact, on my Orbiter universe it is still April 2009 and yet many people have asked if they can fly with ISA. I am at something of a loss to understand why.

Sure, the webpages has some content bit there is a lot missing, there is easily 100 hours of work just to get the website working how I would like and I really don't have enough time to do this yet many still ask to fly for ISA.

I am thinking of opening up ISA but IF I do it will be on a limited basis, you will first have to prove that you can fly and you will need to provide some evidence you have the skills required. ISA absolutely will not let you sign up on Monday and be flying to Mars in Tuesday (besides, the Mars mission plan isn't ready yet).

So, my question to people. would a VSA that is firmly focused on using checklists, mission plans and so on be of any interest? Note ISA is NOT just about flying but about developing procedures and checklists for missions which are then flown so there are a lot of logistics and a lot of planning going on as well as some flying.

 

[Lucy]

You know how I love my checklists. My only hesitation in expressing interest is my somewhat unique schedule - some weeks I have lots of time, others not much, but I always keep one day a week free, which I could devote part of to ISA in planning, flying, infrastructure support (I do websites too, priddy ones honest), and the like. As I say I hesitate to concrete anything until I know for sure how much time I can put into it - there's a lot of things demanding my attention at the minute.

 

[garyw]

I have exactly the same problem, this is why ISA was always a one person VSA. The real world is a pain at times.

I'm now thinking that the best way to do this is to have a core amount of permanent staff members then several pilots. Missions will go to whoever has passed training and is available for that mission. This will enable the ISA world to progress as when people are available.

 

[PennyBlack]

At first I had to scratch my head and wonder what this ISA was. Then I saw the XR2 visit to the ISS and clicked.

I built a base on the moon useing modules. I dropped them off the Arrow after flying from Brighton Beach. I got an mmu to pick them up and locate the ideal placeing, connection ect., and dropped them.
I exited to launchpad.
I opened the current scenario and took the lines that placed the new base (modules) and pasted them into another scenario as a permenent placement, building as I go. I suppose this is how you guy's are doing it.

But I do have a few questions...
VSA is that "VIRTUAL" Space Agency.?
Do you hope the multi-player, which I have yet to master in connection, will cater for your VSA dreams.? Would you need an independent server ect.

Where's your ISA website please.

 

[Woo482]

I believe the idea of ISA is to be more like OFSS where the pilots are given missions, they fly them, then they give the finished scenario back to Garyw or whoever is organising the flights and not to use OMP to fly the flights and the ISA website is here :thumbup:

 

[PennyBlack]

Gotcha. And the site, thanks.

But it would be great when the multi-player matures to the level I think garyw may be envisioning.

 

[garyw]

VSA is Virtual Space Agency, ISA was designed with just me in mind so it's my own little space programme. No OMP required and to be honest I don't have an interest in OMP. Pilots would fly specific missions much in the same way as they did for SimNASA.

 

[fireballs619]

I would be interested in joining such a VSA, but my piloting skills are not up to par. I think you're idea of a VSA is one of the best out there, as it provides structure. The logistics is half the fun!

 

[garyw]

Most of the logistics that are dealt with 'in sim' are pilot logistics, moving crew from one place to another by using the TX as a hypersonic transport. The logistics of moving a rocket from factory to pad are assumed to happen behind the scenes :lol: