UMSF@10, We've come a long, long way together... |
UMSF@10, We've come a long, long way together... |
Feb 8 2014, 10:52 PM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
On the 8th of February 2004, a much younger Doug Ellison set up and made the very first posts on a new forum called Unmanned Spaceflight.com. Here are those very first posts: Welcome | First Image Ten years and many, many more images and posts later, hundreds of members and guests regularly visit and contribute to these pages to share their enthusiasm for space exploration. Thanks Doug for getting us all started on this journey. |
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Feb 8 2014, 10:59 PM
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#2
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
The byline in our Unmanned Spaceflight.com banner is 'exploring the solar system and beyond from the comfort of home'.
To celebrate that idea, here are some images of 'home' from across the solar system along with our UMSF.com 10th anniversary logo. 1. 3. 1. Mars Exploration Rovers | 2. Voyager | 3. Cassini | 4. Curiosity |
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Feb 8 2014, 11:43 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
Two more wallpapers for good measure
By the way, it would be nice to hear from readers about their best memories or moments on UMSF or how they came to find the Forum originally. For me it was when Steve Squyres introduced me to the Forum on the day that Spirit reached the summit of Husband Hill. The rest is history! Also, if you happen to tweet about UMSF's anniversary, use the hashtag #UMSF10 |
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Feb 9 2014, 01:36 AM
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#4
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14448 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Who would have thought that the scrappy forum I threw up on spare webspace back in February 2004 would still be around today. I'm e a little bit proud, but largely astonished that people have stuck around despite my bombastic efforts as an admin I know of at least two people who now have careers within the fields of space exploration and planetary science because of this place. That's probably what I'm most proud this place has achieved.
A huge thank you to the admin team - especially Glen, Emily, Dan - who do a far far better job of keeping this place in shape than I could ever have imagined doing myself. Thanks must also go to Emily and the rest of The Planetary Society staff for giving UMSF a roof over its head since 2010 To the members, this dysfunctional, creative, brilliant, knowledgeable and inquisitive bunch crazy enough to call this place their exploration home - thanks for sharing your creativity with us and helping share the excitement of exploration with the rest of the world. But the most thanks of all have to go to Steve Squyres and Jim Bell - for being brave enough to let us come along for the ride when Spirit and Opportunity landed ten years ago. Who knows what adventures we will have, what landscapes we will see and what incredible discoveries will be made in the next ten years. Cheers Doug |
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Feb 9 2014, 02:30 AM
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#5
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2922 Joined: 14-February 06 From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France) Member No.: 682 |
This forum is very special to me. It started on the very day of my 50th birthday...
Thanks for the best birthday present I'll ever have Doug. Thanks to admins to have kept it this way up to my 60th birthday. Thanks to the others for sharing your pictures and passion --gilles ADMIN: From all of us on this day - happy birthday to you - we're in good company. -------------------- |
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Feb 9 2014, 02:44 AM
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#6
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Member Group: Members Posts: 295 Joined: 2-March 04 From: Central California Member No.: 45 |
I came here after doing a search on the rovers. It quickly became the first site I'd check in the morning. I am grateful to Doug for starting the forum and keeping it at a high level from the start. A lot of cool and knowledgeable people have posted. I look forward to Pluto!
-------------------- Eric P / MizarKey
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Feb 9 2014, 04:32 AM
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#7
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
Gilles, you're in good company, it's my birthday too (number 39, for real). Glad to be a part of this place.
ADMIN: Seriously, this day is turning into a real party. Happy birthday Emily from all of us. -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Feb 9 2014, 07:05 AM
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#8
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2492 Joined: 15-January 05 From: center Italy Member No.: 150 |
Happy birthday to Gilles, Emily and, obviously, UMSF!
-------------------- I always think before posting! - Marco -
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Feb 9 2014, 08:09 AM
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#9
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2113 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
I first got here from a link on Phil Plait's old Bad Astronomy forum right around the beginning, with the old rlproject.com domain (by who, I don't know). Lurked for six years, but I never looked back! I first figured out how special this place was when Doug interviewed Steve Squyres the first time:
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=1367 (check post #5 for a not-so-accurate prediction on rover longevity ) Thanks to the mods for the stability from the forces of chaos (to which I have unintentionally contributed on occasion!) Here's to the next 10! |
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Feb 9 2014, 09:25 AM
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#10
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Rover Driver Group: Members Posts: 1015 Joined: 4-March 04 Member No.: 47 |
I was a bored space enthusiast/student with too much time on my hands and looking at many different space-related internet fora. There was a link in one of them to this place. I really enjoyed (and still do) all the magic images people make here and knowledge about things (mainly geology) about which I know nothing about. Everyone has done a great jonb and hope to enjoy it for many more years!
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Feb 9 2014, 10:11 AM
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#11
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Special Cookie Group: Members Posts: 2168 Joined: 6-April 05 From: Sintra | Portugal Member No.: 228 |
Heck, it's being at home!
Thank you, Doug, it definitely wouldn't be the same without UMSF. Looking forward for the Ithacas to come on the horizon in the next decade! -------------------- "Ride, boldly ride," The shade replied, "If you seek for Eldorado!"
Edgar Alan Poe |
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Feb 9 2014, 12:55 PM
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#12
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Member Group: Members Posts: 293 Joined: 22-September 08 From: Spain Member No.: 4350 |
I joined when I saw on the news Oppy had been roving for two years, and I couldn't believe she was still working (yeah, about that...)
And one of my first forum memories: the high speed turtle! |
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Feb 9 2014, 03:39 PM
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#13
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8789 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
I was searching for information about unmanned spacecraft fault protection systems for my MS thesis, and the rest is history. UMSF's been far more valuable to me than that stupid degree ever has been!
The most amazing thing is that I've met a number of REALLY neat people and made some true friends thereby, some of whom I've actually met in person. That's just astonishing, really. This special place has had an extremely positive impact on many lives including mine. -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Feb 9 2014, 05:46 PM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 28-August 07 From: San Francisco Member No.: 3511 |
Many Happy Returns & Thanks to everyone at UMSF, you epitomize the sharing of the joy of exploration...
...memorable highlight : Iapetus close ups coming down, what a night! And, the best is yet to come... -------------------- 'She drove until the wheels fell off...'
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Feb 9 2014, 06:36 PM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1598 Joined: 14-October 05 From: Vermont Member No.: 530 |
I was an occasional visitor to the yellow forum-- top result on google-- and got fed up with magenta scribbles on B&W rock pareidoila for the nth time and finally this place was ranking on google.
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