UMSF will close, Jan 1st 2025 Options

[scalbers]

I've no idea if this is helpful, but other web forums of a similar vintage which I visit are running Simple Machines Forum v2 [0], which is still being maintained.

As djellison mentioned earlier[1], raising funds for developer time is not out of the question. As a long standing member of the Planetary Society, I would welcome discussion of the Society adding some funds as well.

Just my 2¢.

Edit: this may be useful for converting to SMF [2]. Note that I'm not attached to SMF in any way except for the fact that I've seen it in current use

[0] https://www.simplemachines.org
[1] http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...st&p=264632
[2] https://www.simplemachines.org/community/in...php?board=132.0

Interesting - may be worth a try to migrate to this.

[mcaplinger]

There's no shortage of available forum software and hosting services, it's the porting of the existing content that's an issue. Using another obsolete system doesn't seem like much of an improvement.

My impression is that there's no interest in setting up and moderating a new forum, regardless of platform, even if the existing content is not migrated.

[deedan06]

A new forum could be made, however, the old mods are tired, and there is only really one active one left anyways. And there still is the issue of the age of forums being over. Any one of us could make a spiritual successor if they so want to, would even be the perfect time for the rebrand to robotic spaceflight, however umsf is as a project itself is over, even when there can be a new beginning for a new successor project, made by any one of us.

[ugordan]

I joined this forum just over 19 years ago (does time fly or what?), mostly being interested in Cassini, but also being amazed at software you folks developed for MERs.

This forum was literally the first thing I would check up on when I woke up, for years, until Cassini ended (I got kind of depressed after that). I would still check up after big events like Juno's flybys to see what the image processing wizards cooked up, but would rarely post.

Anyway, I don't think I've ever run into a forum with such a high signal to noise ratio and quality of discussions as with UMSF.

I'm sad to see it go, but am very grateful for it ever existing. It's been a big part of my life, talking to like-minded individuals with interests similar to mine. I can only hope my measly contributions over the years have at least kept the S/N ratio positive.

[Steve G]

I joined back in December 2005 and have been an every day lurker and very rarely posted. Thanks for the great ride, and hopefully we'll find another hangout. (NASA Spaceflight.com is there but it doesn't have the quality or the standards we have here.)

[edwinkite]

Thank you to everyone who helped maintain and support this forum over the years, including all the posters. I started reading it as an undergraduate, am now tenured professor (and MSL science team member). Time goes fast!

[Saturns Moon Tit...]

Been lurking here since around 2014 when I was in highschool. The wonderful MSL images posted here inspired me to learn about geology, I'm now an m2020 collaborator. Sad to see this forum go. Thanks to the moderators, mappers, and image processing geniuses who made this place so special.

[meraero]

I have been lurking for a very long time, perhaps posting a question here or there but generally just watched the experts with great interest. I was the aerodynamics lead for the MER, MSL and M2020 entry vehicles. This has been such an amazing resource to see what our payloads have been up to for over 20 years. Very sad to see this forum close. This site is truly the best way to keep tabs on Mars activity and all the other robotic missions. Many thanks to all who have contributed and shown us the solar system every day.

[serpens]

Well I guess all good things must come to an end. The forum has been a font of knowledge for decades and survived when many others fell by the wayside. I hope and trust that our image processers will continue to post to the end. I check in every day to enjoy their offerings with particular thanks to Tau and Neville Thompson. To be candid at my age I never expected the forum to end before I did. Great kudos to djellison for establishing the site in the first place.