One of the biggest steps of any mission starts right here on
Earth at a computer desk – NASA runs on software, period. Rovers can’t move,
spacecraft can’t fly, even rockets can’t blast off without the software codes
that run them all.
We’ve compiled hundreds of these powerful codes into
one location at software.nasa.gov. And guess what? You can start downloading
them right now for free! Here are just a few you can use:
TetrUSS has been used extensively for space launch vehicle
analysis and design, like on the Space Launch System, which is planned to take
humans to Mars.
You really could say it’s helping us to “blast off.” Outside
of NASA, this software has been used to analyze Mars planetary entry vehicles,
ballistics and even high-altitude sky diver aerodynamics. Basically if
anything has moved through any planetary atmosphere, this software has played a
role.
2. KNIFE (part of the FUN3D software and released as a package)
The name may be a bit intimidating, but with good reason –
KNIFE packs a powerful punch.
It was created to help us learn more about the
sonic booms that resonate when planes break the sound barrier, but it has also
helped develop green energy sources such as wind turbines and techniques to
minimize drag for long-haul trucking. Maybe we should re-name this versatile
and handy code, “Swiss Army KNIFE?”
3. Cart3D (Automated Triangle Geometry Processing for Surface Modeling and Cartesian Grid Generation)
If software codes went to high school, Cart3D would be Prom
Queen. This software is so popular, it is being used in almost every mission area here at NASA.
Engineers and scientists are currently using it to model
everything from advanced drones to quieter supersonic aircraft.
4. FACET (Future Air Traffic Management Concepts Evaluation Tool)
Frequent flyers: this may be your favorite code without even
knowing it. FACET was developed to evaluate futuristic concepts in air traffic
management, and it has served as a testbed for assessing today’s regular
operations.
To sum it up, this software code helps airports keep planes
organized in the air and on the ground.
5.GIPSY-OASIS
GIPSY-OASIS is part of the GPS system to end all GPS systems. It’s so accurate, John Deere used it to help create self-driving tractors.
How? John Deere already had a navigation system in the works, but it
could only be used in certain parts of the world.
Our ground stations are all
across the globe, and our software ensures accuracy down to a few inches. And
so, a new breed of tractor was born! Did
we mention this software is free?
These are just a few examples of the software NASA has
available for free public and consumer use. To browse the catalog online, check
out software.nasa.gov.
Here’s a list of your main options when it comes to hosting your webcomic. Remember, you can always experiment with different options to see which works out best for you.
In most cases, Tapastic is your best bet. It’s the most popular webcomic host right now as far as I can tell and the site is being actively maintained and updated. You can also make a little money through ad revenue. However, sexually explicit content isn’t allowed (though non-explicit mature content is).
If you post your comic here, I strongly recommend updating by creating new episodes rather than editing new pages into existing ones. Because of the way the site works, you’ll end up with far more readers with the former method.
This used to be the host just a couple of years ago, but these days not so much. A decent place to cross-post, but I generally wouldn’t recommend it as a primary host because you’re likely to get fewer readers. For anyone who’s established themselves only on Smackjeeves, I recommend giving Tapastic a go. Explicit content is also not allowed here, but you’re probably less likely to get caught.
Not strictly a webcomic host, but you can host webcomics here. There is a webcomic theme you can use to make it easier to read through your comic. If it’s a full length webcomic, it’s usually best to give it its own tumblr account rather than only posting pages to your usual tumblr. It makes it easier for new readers to navigate and allows people to follow just the comic if that’s what they want. You can always reblog the pages to your usual tumblr as well.
Tumblr can be a fantastic host, but it’s a bit trickier than most. If you create a great comic on another host and do nothing to promote it, chances are it’ll be very popular. If you do this on tumblr, it may well go completely unnoticed.
However, it does have some strong points. Adult content is allowed, so tumblr is usually the best place for anything explicit. Tumblr is also a great place for comics with individual pages that stand alone, as is the case for many autobiographical comics, and people here tend to love diverse content. It’s not at all a bad place to give a go, but if you don’t seem to be getting much attention I’d suggest trying something a bit more straightforward like Tapastic before concluding people just aren’t interested.
Consider how people will be seeing your comic as it comes across their dash. Make sure the text in your comic pages is big enough for people to read on their dash (images will be displayed 540px wide). Avoid updating more than once a day so that people don’t see pages out of order and get confused. Also remember that because of reblogs, things can’t really be taken back once they’ve been posted.
This is another host people still use a bit, but it’s not nearly as well known as the others so you will probably get significantly fewer readers here than you would elsewhere. However, their rules do say that adult content is allowed (though not pornography?), so it may be one to consider for things other hosts won’t permit.
These guys are very fancy and host some great comics! However, they’re not an open hosting option like the rest – you have to submit a pitch during a period when they’re accepting them and they’re quite selective in who they pick.
Your own website
This has the advantage of making you look like a cool person who has their own website. It also gives you more control over how your comic is displayed and potentially allows you to earn ad revenue, but it will mean a lot more work.
You’ll need to do much more advertising because people can’t find your comic in the same ways they can through webcomic hosts. You’ll also have to work harder to keep your audience because anyone not using RSS feeds will have to bookmark your site and remember to come back. This can lead to you losing your audience more easily during hiatuses.
Maintaining social media accounts such as on tumblr, twitter, or facebook to post update notifications, promote your comic, and keep in touch with your audience may reduce some of these problems.
WordPress has webcomic themes that allow you to put together your comic on your own site. Makes creating a site easier, but there are still the same challenges around building and maintaining an audience.
Thanks for this! I actually use ComicFury as a mirror for Ninety-Nine Righteous Men and while I’m not very active in the CF community, I am definitely happy to answer questions about generally using the host and putting up a comic, if anyone is thinking about using it. Two things of note: CF allows you to point a custom domain free of charge (as does tumblr and Comic Genesis) and while the default CF themes are kinda hokey in my opinion, CF can do a lot IF you’re good at HTML/CSS (there’s even a forum to help you out.)
Another popular host is Comic Genesis (formerly Keenspace) – a lot of webcomics have been hosted there over the years and it’s long running so I wouldn’t worry about it, say, shutting down. The only limitations on content that they impose are, in their words: “any material in violation of any applicable law or regulation is prohibited […]
material that is (by law) obscene, defamatory, constitutes an illegal threat, or violates export control laws” (as contact address is listed as South Dakota, it’s safe to assume “obscene” refers to U.S. obscenity laws as opposed to, say, China. Otherwise I doubt All Roses Have Thorns would still be there.)
As for promoting your comic, especially if you’re self-hosting, there are a number of webcomic listings to check out:
Inspiration Haven 