Did you know that the NASA site runs on WordPress? It is just another WordPress site like this one, presenting itself in a unique way with great CSS, some flashy drop-down menus and the odd plugin or two.
The Challenge
The challenge is to work out how to get your site to look and behave like this fantastic site. I read somewhere in late 2008 that the NASA site runs on WordPress. It is a great example of a dark theme as you can see below.
But how do you get your site to look as dramatic and content rich as the NASA site? You can replicate features of the NASA site and make some minor code modifications to make a simple blog look absolutely amazing.
If you know how to do even just one thing to replicate the NASA site – let us know
Leave a comment, write a tutorial, post an article and leave your link below in the comments. If you have a specific question about the NASA site you want answered, leave it in the comments and we will try and find some answers.
I will update this post as needed to include mini site reviews directing readers to your article related to creating a site that looks or feels more like NASA.gov.
Anatomy of the NASA Site
I am not a programmer. I am a self-taught WordPress hacker who after getting frustrated making modifications to free themes and other cheap themes, found Thesis Theme for WordPress.
- The Thesis Forum provides a ton of help for people like myself to copy and paste code snippets to make unique customizations – without having to pay a cent.
But sometimes you really want to know how a particular site is coded so you can make yours more like it. A role model kind of thing.
My favourite dark theme site is without a doubt this one from NASA. I would love, as I’m sure many others would, to know how to make my site behave or look even a little like the NASA site.
From first looks I can see…
- the use of transparency between content boxes
- a tag-like plugin for popular posts, customized for today, last 30 days and last 12 months
- a feature gallery plugin
- feature articles with thumbnails
- distinctive footer with columns of lists
- subscribe to newsletter function
- dynamic drop-down menu bars
I once tried the Justin Tadlock Options Theme for its dark colours and some of the NASA site features and design are similar, however I don’t think the NASA site uses the Options theme.
Ready. Set. Go!
Share your thoughts below.
UPDATE *** A WORD ABOUT NASA POWERED BY WORDPRESS***
Sites that mention NASA’s use of WordPress
Ma.tt – Matt Mullenweg is one of PC World’s Top 50 People on the Web, Inc.com’s 30 under 30, and Business Week’s 25 Most Influential People on the Web.
I am the founding developer of WordPress, the blogging software that runs much of this site and millions of other sites around the world.
Evidence of NASA using WordPress
Note the url addresses…./nasa.gov/…, references to powered by WordPress, use of WordPress plugins, search results referring to WordPress, default WordPress theme used on one site and classic WordPress previous/next links and default sidebar.
If NASA Stops Using WordPress during the infancy of this post, we will still have the same result – trying to crack the best of their CSS :-)
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
First off, I want to make it clear that I couldn’t begin to participate in your challenge, as I am deficient in every skill needed to accomplish that task. Second, this comment has no effect on your challenge (which I think is very cool, BTW!).
But I’m confused.
Ninety seconds of research on Google (ending up at Wikipedia) shows that the NASA site is run by a government contractor called eTouch Consulting (hope I got that hyperlink HTML entered correctly back there!) using an “enterprise wiki” software solution they call SamePage. Quoting from their website, “SamePage is the enterprise-strength wiki solution that combines the best of wikis and blogs to effectively support, streamline, and manage collaborative team efforts.” I could find no mention of WordPress, although I suppose their developers could’ve used WordPress as a jumping-off point for their software package. Is there something else I’m totally missing here?
Please understand I’m not trying to flame you or anything. I’m just trying to make sure I’m not already the biggest idiot ever! I love the great job you’ve done with your website!
TIA for your clarification.
Larry – thanks for your integrity check. I will add the evidence to beef it up. I had thought of adding my sources/evidence and overlooked it. The NASA.gov site is indeed a blog format as this time, with many if not all sections powered by WordPress. The wiki functionality I believe operates in tandem with the WordPress framework – calling all IT geeks to confirm that (I mean it lovingly :-)
I have included some screenshots to confirm my sources. The main lesson I guess I wanted to make from this article is that – with a bit of CSS tweaking, the addition of some plugins, javascript and the wonderful WordPress framework – not only you can design a website that not only looks like a traditional website rather than the standards blog format, you can also reap all the advantages of a blog. Advantages such as RSS feeds, subscriber plugins, prompt search engine indexing, strong Google juice ratings and predictable look, touch and feel that readers know how to navigate around.
Larry, you will be surfing and hacking code in no time. My dad cottoned on to it at 68 yrs with little background other than a Remington typewriter! I myself am a relative newbie to coding and web design, having started my self-teaching in late 2007.
Don’t forget to leave your website/blog link. I’d love to see how you are going. I love a good success story. Thanks again for beefing up the post. Be sure to check back and see how things are going.
I have a black website and i am worried that it hurts peoples eyes when they look at it too long, I don’t know whether NASA have done the right thing here.
Ben @ While white on black is a little challenging to read, the contrast you have when you click further to read about products – that is, white on grey, is a lot easier. I think in moderation it looks quite classy, especially with lots of images (tools in your case). I’d say with your site the pictures sell to the man to click through to read the grey and the white text is for the search engines. NASA is all about the pictures and the experience of space – therefore the darker theme. Can you imagine the effect vanishing if the page suddenly looked like this – white!?
WOW! I didn’t know that the NASA site runs on a wordpress theme!
According to Mark Jaquith in May 2009, there are approximately 13 million WordPress users including:
That was a nice read
Just goes to show that very professional sites can be made with word press. I’m proper into word press development at the moment iv took on the challenge to make the NASA site theme.
Fantastic. It will be awesome to see. I’ll happily promote it here Thesis Theme HQ.
great stuff to kick start my creative side this AM
Great content, very helpfull. The web needs more great sites like this.
Good solution, thanks
great one,and well done and keep up the good work.
Thanks! Good news :)
Thanks!
I have a similar(ish) theme for my site (Ibiza Owners Club) ibizaoc.com. I have manipulated it somewhat but it functions exactly how i want it to!!
Andy
.-= Andy Conway´s last blog ..‘Stilla’ claims title of Car of the Month for October 2009 =-.
un tres bon article, merci pour cet info .
Great blog :D keep it up!
Check out http://www.yourdubstep.com if interested. Thanks
Keep it up!
This post appears to recieve a large ammount of visitors. How do you get traffic to it? It offers a nice exceptional spin on details. I guess having a thing authentic or substantial to talk about is the most important factor.
If anyone knows if there is the nasa template for sale , from any developer-page pls send me email to nio1978@me.com or comment here , thx very much
I had no idea that NASA uses Wordpress for their site. It just goes to show how versatile the program is to fit anyone’s needs. If only more of us can figure out how to make our sites as amazing as theirs! Thanks so much for sharing.