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.