Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program
Developer(s)Squad
Publisher(s)Private Division
Producer(s)Nestor Gomez
Designer(s)Felipe Falanghe, Paul Boyle
Programmer(s)Jamie Leighton, David Tregoning
Artist(s)Rafael Gonzalez
Composer(s)Edu Castillo
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
ReleaseLinux, macOS, Windows
  • WW: 27 April 2015
PlayStation 4
  • NA: 12 July 2016
Xbox One
  • WW: 15 July 2016
Enhanced Edition
PS4, Xbox One
  • WW: 16 January 2018
PS5, Xbox Series X/S
  • WW: 24 September 2021
Genre(s)Space flight simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

Kerbal Space Program (KSP) is a space flight simulation video game developed by Mexican studio Squad for Linux, macOS, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. In the game, players direct the space program of a species of green humanoid aliens known as "Kerbals". The game features a pseudorealistic orbital physics engine, allowing for various real-life orbital maneuvers such as Hohmann transfer orbits and orbital rendezvous.

The first public version was released digitally on Squad's Kerbal Space Program storefront on 24 June 2011, and joined Steam's early access program on 20 March 2013.[1] The game was released out of beta on 27 April 2015. Kerbal Space Program has support for user-created mods that add new features, such as interstellar, new parts, and multiplayer. Popular mods have received support and inclusion in the game by Squad.[2] The game has garnered commendation from spaceflight industry figures such as NASA,[3][4] ESA,[5] science communicator Scott Manley, ULA CEO Tory Bruno,[6] SpaceX CEO Elon Musk,[7][8] and Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck.[9]

In May 2017, Squad announced that the game had been purchased by video game company Take-Two Interactive, who will help support Squad in keeping the console versions up-to-date alongside the personal computer versions. An Enhanced Edition was released for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in January 2018, and for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in September 2021 by Private Division, a publishing subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive.[10][11] Two expansions for the game have been released as downloadable content: Making History in March 2018 and Breaking Ground in May 2019. A sequel, Kerbal Space Program 2, was released in early access on February 24, 2023.[12]

  1. ^ Villapaz, Luke (2 April 2014). "'Kerbal Space Program' Launches NASA 'Asteroid Redirect Mission' Update [VIDEO]". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  2. ^ Rossignol, Jim (18 December 2012). "Trajectory: Squad Explain Kerbal Space Program". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 7 February 2020. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  3. ^ Groen, Andrew (18 June 2013). "NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab is obsessed with a certain game, and I bet you can guess what it is". Penny Arcade. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  4. ^ "NASA Experts, Exhibits at SXSW Interactive". NASA. 6 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Kerbal includes Ariane 5 and real ESA missions for gamers". ESA.int. 18 May 2020. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  6. ^ Tory Bruno [@torybruno] (12 April 2020). "@SnacklessK Yes. But I have to admit that in KSP, I often take secret pleasure in building ridiculous rockets that…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference NBCnews2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Kerbal Space Program Launch Trailer. Xbox. 15 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2022 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ Manley, Scott (18 December 2020). Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck & Kerbal Space Program. Archived from the original on 19 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ Dennis, Catrina (15 December 2017). "Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition Coming to PS4 and Xbox One". comicbook.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  11. ^ Gilliam, Ryan (24 June 2021). "Kerbal Space Program coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X with free upgrade". Polygon. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  12. ^ Kerbal Space Program 2: Episode 6 - Early Access, 21 October 2022, archived from the original on 14 March 2023, retrieved 29 October 2022