NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab is obsessed with a certain game...

[nyrath]

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab is obsessed with a certain game, and I bet you can guess what it is.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/report/article/nasas-jet-propulsion-lab-is-obsessed-with-a-certain-game-and-i-bet-you-can-

Apparently quite a few people at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory are rabid Kerbal fans.

[hoojiwana]

A few things about that article are a bit confusing, mainly this:

The amusing part is that none of the parts necessary to build a ship that can reach Duna are available in the base game of Kerbal Space Program. So clearly NASA has been scouring the Kerbal forums looking for mod packs that will help them get the job done.

[regex]

The amusing part is that none of the parts necessary to build a ship that can reach Duna are available in the base game of Kerbal Space Program.

What the crap?

[Sir Nahme]

I think it's just poor writing/editing. probably meant you needed KAS to do a proper skycrane

[hoojiwana]

I think it's just poor writing/editing. probably meant you needed KAS to do a proper skycrane

But it clearly says you can't even reach Duna with stock parts. There is even a stock skycrane craft, albeit one without the cable.

[Sir Nahme]

Hence my belief it is poor writing/editing. I doubt it's the JPL boys saying they needed mods to get there.

[Bunsen]

"Half of JPL is playing that game right now,†said Douglas Ellison...

Remember Curiosity, folks. It's the last productive thing JPL will ever accomplish.

[sal_vager]

The amusing part is that none of the parts necessary to build a ship that can reach Duna are available in the base game of Kerbal Space Program. So clearly NASA has been scouring the Kerbal forums looking for mod packs that will help them get the job done.

The journalist obviously didn't try hard enough

[Designer225]

But it clearly says you can't even reach Duna with stock parts. There is even a stock skycrane craft, albeit one without the cable.

You CAN reach Duna with stock parts.

[hoojiwana]

You CAN reach Duna with stock parts.

Exactly my point. Quite why the article says you can't and require mod parts is confusing and might put off potential new players.

[Eleven]

My first thoughts when I read that, was that they were referring to the Demo.

[hoojiwana]

But the demo doesn't even have Duna in it, and mods won't work.

[ShachonianX]

You CAN reach Duna with stock parts.

Someone should tell them that. Use NERVAs, guys!

[numerobis]

The PA article has been amended already to be clearer (though it still indicates stock interplanetary travel is hard -- I'd argue what's hard is figuring out how to do it, and parts don't help with that).

[E. F. Kranz]

NASA should develop a KSP mod.

[Extemporary]

NASA should develop a KSP mod.

Do you mean a mod that was developed for KSP by NASA, or a KSP mod for NASA? Either one would be awesome.

[technicalfool]

Do you mean a mod that was developed for KSP by NASA, or a KSP mod for NASA? Either one would be awesome.

You mean they hired an astronaut called Jeb?

Let's hope he doesn't try to

eh?

[Merinsan]

Is it just me, or does the article imply that the guys at JPL aren't so good at going to space? Where do I send my resume of KSP acheivements to apply for a job!

[Designer225]

Is it just me, or does the article imply that the guys at JPL aren't so good at going to space? Where do I send my resume of KSP acheivements to apply for a job!

1, They have probably not played KSP before, and even one of them do, they've grown lax about it.

2. I have no idea, maybe JPL or Johnson Space Center?

[Designer225]

By the way, there are complaints about the articles. They seemed mad.