Rocket science for everyone

ESA’s technical centre in the Netherlands provided the perfect backdrop for the Kerbal Space Program 2 preview, because the game is firmly based on the real-world science of spaceflight. The developers, Intercept Games, have regularly consulted space industry engineers and scientists to keep it real, maintaining the scientific accuracy that made the original game useful for real rocket scientists. This level of authenticity is probably why there are so many Kerbal fans within space agencies.

The preview event gave veteran space gamers, journalists and space experts the chance to get hands-on with the new Kerbal Space Program 2 game and to put it through its paces. It proved to be a fun and exciting experience for everyone who had travelled to ESTEC, with many Kerbal spacecraft being built and launched over the course of the event.

Reflecting on the success of the preview hosted by ESA, Michael Cook, Franchise Director at KSP2’s publisher Private Division said: “Kerbal Space Program 2 and the European Space Agency share the same deep passion and fascination for space. We could not imagine a better partner to support us in showcasing a game where players accidentally learn rocket science as we teach it in an entertaining and informative way.”

In Kerbal Space Program 2, players get the chance to run the space programme of the Kerbals, who are little green people that live on a planet called Kerbin, which is smaller, but not too dissimilar to our own home planet. The idea of the game is to design and build your own spacecraft and then to launch your Kerbal astronauts into space to explore and visit other worlds. Things don’t always go according to plan, but learning from your mistakes is fun, too!

The preview event at ESTEC was held ahead of the early-access launch of Kerbal Space program 2 at the end of February. This gives fans that have been eagerly awaiting the next generation of this classic space simulator game the chance to play and shape its ongoing development.

For ESA, building partnerships with game developers and publishers enables the agency to reach a wider audience and space-related games provide the opportunity to inspire a new generation of space engineers and astronauts. 

Philippe Willekens, the head of ESA’s Communication Department commented: “The ability of games and gaming to really engage and involve people is wonderful. It allows everyone to experience the challenges and excitement of real space exploration for themselves. The work done by the development teams at Private Division really take this to the next level and it’s a great honour for ESA to be part of the KSP story.”