To my delight I recently discovered a plethora of mods the growing committed community has kindly released expanding the choice massively, creating solutions to many of the problems typically encountered. But even so the technicalities involved in achieving escape velocity from Kerbal to the Mun has stubbornly refused to yield; even after scores of hours and many spectacular catastrophies. Despite the tendency for fiery fury I persisted and finally achieved the goal – but my attempts to return failed when their POD parachute failed and detached only 1km from the surface of their home planet.
Despite the mishap I have vowed to return with another three brave green souls, changing only the chute in my design for a triple featured device with more drag capability courtesy of the modders.
What’s interesting is that; as the game develops and more features become available KSP's unwittingly simulating the development of a space program – in real time. Release v0.143 allows persistence; recording every single vehicle part either landed, in orbit or detached during all flights, so long as the flight doesn’t end or remains in orbit; already my orbital pathways are crowding with debris. I'm using this feature to lift several modules into orbit and on to the Mun for the construction of a moon-base. I’m hopeful that in time the addition of further locations will be become available such as distant planets, comets and asteroids. The sky is literally the limit.
As a sandbox it’s unsurpassed in its simple complexity and poses a true challenge from which it’s difficult to shy from. It’s the spiritual prequel to EvE Online; bugged yet brilliant, and highly recommended.
Happy designing, launching, exploding, retrying...
Related Links
Kerbal Space Program (official website)
Kerbal Space Program Mods (wiki)
