Do you have any ideas?

Question

I found this sight http://www.ibiblio.org/lunar/school/index.html and I was seriously bummed when I found out that the sight had not been updated in over 11 years. I was wondering if anyone knew of a currant project like this one (if so pleas post a link to there website). If no one knows of such a group who would be interested in helping me to start one? It would basically be an online think tank, we would work on practical designs for launching systems, space craft, space stations, lunar and Martian colonies and whatever else we decide to work on (it doesn’t have to be space related). eventually we may even submit our ideas to the government or one or more corporations in an attempt to get funding for them (thou that’s quite a ways off if it happens at all)

Let me make a few things clear right now. First this would not be a fanfic or sci-fi group (so no transporters or warp drive), my hope is that even if nothing we design ever gets built maybe it will inspire something that will be built and lead to a better future. Second, let me say that you do not need a degree to join the think tank (I’ve never been to a day of collage and I’m the one starting the group).

Answer 1

well thats a big endevor and you'd have to have some really good and qualified minds in order to get an appeal from the feds...

besides they already have their own goals and probably have already theorized and proved many techs needed to accomplish what you set forth....

best bet is to appeal to private companies. thats where the new market is and it holds the FREEDOM to perform these actions as well. not to mention the low cost avalibilitities which can make this "group" a closer reality for us that have NO money.

might as well start your own private consulting company / group..... but like I said. we'll need to find QUALIFIED experienced minds in their respective fields.

And remember, you won't be the only of its kind.
welcome to the wonderful world of COMPETITION!!
a great way to speed things up and give incentives

Answer 2

OK... so let's see...

What part(s) of a spacecraft did you design in the past?

What engineering or science experience do you have?

If you don't have any practical experience, do you at least plan on getting a degree in a field that might qualify you to "design" anything given enough time to master the real world learning curve?

What experience do you imagine a practical designer of spacecraft would need at a minimum? Any?

Where do you imagine the money for even the simplest of your design environments will come from?

Not trying to destroy your dream here. But hoping that you either have experience (and maybe a degree) or will consider getting both before you get started with your "think tank". You see, we do not need another "think tank" to produce BS, we have enough of those in Washington, already.

And no, I do not believe that interest and enthusiasm are enough. This is not religion and feasible designs are not made by praying or wishing. They are made by calculating, building, testing and rinsing and repeating until the thing works. And that, in my experience, takes more money and time than most people can even begin to imagine.

And if you don't agree with me know, I know that you will once you have finished YOUR first real world design.