Calisker and NASA's Robert Jacobs Talk KSP on MMORPG.com

[SQUAD]

<p><a href="http://bit.ly/1lJBp03"><img src="https://31.media.tumblr.com/421d0978dd4cc1b0158c4e49cd7320db/tumblr_inline_n4jt81AvsR1rr2wit.png"/></a></p>

<p>Our very own <strong>Calisker</strong> and NASA’s Robert Jacobs recently sat down with Red Thomas from MMORPG.com to <strong><a href="http://bit.ly/1lJBp03" target="_blank">DISCUSS</a></strong> <strong><em>Kerbal Space Program: Asteroid Redirect Mission</em></strong>. Here’s a short excerpt where they talk about the development of <strong><em>ARM</em></strong>.<br/><br/><em><strong>Ricoxg:</strong> What was it like around the office at Squad?<br/><br/><strong>Holztman:</strong> It started [as an idea] on Twitter, and it soon expanded to a conversation with Squad’s owners, Adrian Goya and Ezequiel Ayarza. Ultimately, we were communicating with the team at NASA almost daily to make sure we were doing their work justice. A lot of credit has to be given to Felipe Falanghe, KSP creator and lead developer, as well as our technical artist and developer, Chad Jenkins, and our QA director Ted Everett. The entire team crushed it but these three worked some seriously brutal hours to make this update the biggest the game has seen.<br/><br/><strong>Ricoxg: </strong> Can you tell me a little about the development process? What were some obstacles, and where did the ideas for things like the tracking station/asteroid capture come from?<br/><br/><strong>Holztman:</strong> The team wanted to combine the real Asteroid Redirect Mission with the game as much as possible. The tracking station is intended to emulate real life, as NASA is working hard to evaluate all of the asteroids out there that pose a threat to Earth. Where the team took some liberty was the Advance Grabbing Unit, otherwise known as “The Claw,†that is used to redirect asteroids. It can actually grab other things too so if you want to redirect Kerbals, go for it – but please be careful!</em></p>

[OrtwinS]

No comment on the 'does NASA test ideas in KSP?' . We understand they can't admit to that. Imagine the political backlash when 'the media' has a quote on "NASA using Space-game for mission simulation".

We all know it's true though .

Ricoxg: Could we expect additional packs from NASA for the game? Perhaps to explore certain icy moons or develop habitats on other planets?

Jacobs: That’s up to Kerbal Space Program’s executives, but we are open to the future. After all, that’s what space exploration is about – being open to the future and seeing what can be explored and discovered. We go into any collaboration with the hope that the relationship is both successful and sustainable. Individual projects are fun but they have little lasting value. I like the kind of alliance that looks beyond the “right now†and can evolve and grow.

Awesome.

I hope KSP won't turn into a NASA exclusive promotional toy. Lets talk to ESA/Roscosmos/JAXA!

Edited April 24, 2014 by OrtwinS
formatting

[Guest]

Yeah, especially Roscosmos needs some love. They're trying to put together a modular rocket system and ​launch a new module to ISS on a shoestring budget. And JAXA has some interesting ideas, too.

[Tiberion]

If only the linked article said something about that.

Holztman: Good question. We really enjoyed our collaboration with them and are open to working with NASA or other real life space agencies. We actually met some of the SpaceX guys at GDC this year and I was drinking my morning coffee out of a SpaceX mug they hooked me up with while we visited their booth! Right now, our team is focused on update 0.24, which is geared toward Career Mode and ultimately completing development. We will obviously explore other opportunities but one of our main goals is to finish development so players can finally experience the full scope of the game.

I think working with Roscosmos is unlikely for pretty obvious reasons, though.

[Guest]

Yeah. Stupid politics getting in the way of science. Though there are plenty of Russians on the forums, there will probably be even more interest after KSP is released and translated into Russian. ESA certainly could work with Squad, though, and of course private companies like Space X.

[deadshot462]

I would like to see a shuttle parts pack. Cargo bay, small arm, better cockpit/fuselage parts.