I have some great news for everyone today!  On the eve of the date Solar Voyager was due to close forever, I am pleased to announce that the site has been given a second chance and will continue operating!  For this, we can thank the generosity of Tom Hudson (aka Klankster) who has stepped forward to assume the responsibility and expense of maintaining this community.  Please take a look at the next message in the thread for further details!

Tom has an extensive programming background (measured in decades!) as well as a long-term interest in astronomy.  Recently he became interested in space art as well.  Like so many of you, Tom has found Solar Voyager to be a great resource and wanted to do whatever possible to ensure that the site would continue to exist.

I will be working with Tom over the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition and help where possible.  In fact, I have a feeling that Tom will have quite a bit of help because so many of you have come forward during this time of need to offer your services.  I want to thank everyone for that!  I was very touched by the level of commitment that you all share for this little corner of the web.  I also want to thank Jordan over at Hostfury for his efforts to migrate the site to his service and offer more resources than we have today.  Unfortunately the technical hurdles were too much for us to overcome, but the offer was appreciated.  

Even beyond the transition period, I (with my "Hawkeye" user ID) will continue to visit and remain a member.  You won't see me disappear entirely, though I will be using a different email address.  Check my profile for that.

That's about all I have for now...I'm sure Tom will bring some fresh ideas to the table moving forward which will only make the site better in the long run.  Please be patient with us for the next couple weeks...Transitioning a site of this size can be complicated, both from a technical and administrative standpoint, so there will be an adjustment period.

The only thing I ask now is that everyone help get the activity level back to where it was a month ago - new posts have certainly been dwindling to a trickle leading up to the closing date (which was understandable).  Now that the doors will remain open, let's see that new space art!

I also want to publicly thank Tom for stepping up to the plate here.  It is very much appreciated, not only by me, but also by everyone else who finds this community to be valuable.  

Thanks for riding to the rescue - Tom!

Appreciate much your sense of responsibility and carrying on this effort!  Let us know if we can be of assistance in your endeavors!

And thanks to Dave for the great efforts he has put forth during the past four years - those efforts speak for themselves as Solar Voyager has grown and evolved over the years into A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH!

Best regards - Frank Hettick

Ohh splendid  this made my day, thanks Tom & Hawk 

oh Wonderful  < ="">

This is great news, thank you Tom, and thank you Hawkeye!

Nice one,

             Sites like solar voyager are hard to come by, and it would have been a huge loss if it would have closed.

Jason Chapman www.scifi-design.com

 

 

Excellent news! :D

G.