Kerbal Space Program Challenges Players to Recreate ULA’s Vulcan Centaur Rocket
The world of video games and real-life space exploration have collided in an exciting collaboration between the makers of Kerbal Space Program (KSP) and United Launch Alliance (ULA). KSP, a popular spaceflight simulation game, has teamed up with ULA and its CEO Tory Bruno to challenge players to recreate ULA’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket within the game.
Both KSP and ULA have recently achieved significant milestones in their respective fields. KSP released an early-access version of Kerbal Space Program 2 in 2023, which was followed by a major update called “For Science” in December. This update improved the game’s physics and introduced the ability to collect different types of science throughout the Kerbal solar system.
Meanwhile, ULA successfully launched its next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket for the first time on January 8, 2024. To celebrate this achievement, Nate Simpson, the game director of KSP, visited ULA headquarters in Colorado to build the Vulcan rocket within the game with the help of ULA’s rocket scientists. Following his visit, KSP invited players to submit their own recreations of the Vulcan rocket, with the chance to win prizes.
The winner of the challenge was a user named The Space Peacock (@Space_Peacock) who created a near-perfect recreation of the Vulcan rocket. They not only recreated the rocket but also simulated its missions and even included a version of Vulcan’s future SMART engine reuse capability. Two runners-up, Albert Hajek (@albert_hajek) and YouTube channel PicoSpace Industries (@picospace), were also chosen for their impressive recreations.
Tory Bruno, the CEO of ULA, expressed his admiration for all three entries in an interview. He highlighted the passion that both KSP and ULA share for promoting STEM education and initiatives. Many engineers at ULA are avid players of KSP, and the game has inspired numerous individuals to pursue careers in the aerospace industry.
Nate Simpson discussed the educational value of KSP, emphasizing that players inadvertently learn rocket science while pursuing goals within the game. He also mentioned the improvements made in KSP 2 to make it more accessible and engaging for players of all skill levels.
Looking ahead, Simpson and his team are excited about the future of KSP 2. They plan to introduce settlements and on-orbit construction, which will pave the way for interstellar travel and the exploration of a new star system. ULA’s Vulcan rocket had a successful first flight, and Bruno expressed his satisfaction with the mission’s flawless execution.
While the collaboration between KSP and ULA has brought together the worlds of gaming and space exploration, it has also served as a powerful tool for education. KSP has proven to be an effective way to engage individuals in STEM fields and ignite their interest in space exploration.
As KSP 2 continues to evolve with the help of player feedback, the game’s developers are excited to see what players will accomplish with the new features and technologies available to them. With ULA’s Vulcan rocket making its mark in the real world, the future looks bright for both the game and the space industry as a whole.
The early access version of Kerbal Space Program 2 is currently available on the company’s website, allowing players to embark on their own space exploration adventures and experience the thrill of recreating real-life rockets like the Vulcan Centaur.