What has KSP done for your life?

[RedKosmos]

Hello all, and thanks for reading this post!

Ever since I got this game/simulator back in April, I haven't been able to put it down (even through the painful learning curve haha). However, recently, I've been feeling greatly inspired by this game. I have always been amazed at science fiction, since I was a kid watching Godzilla, Star Wars, and even playing games like Starcraft. I'm in absolute love with the Star Trek universe and it is now my favorite fictional story. Star Trek has also given me a great hope to what we can accomplish in the future with a lot of hard work and an unlimited imagination. How does KSP fit into all of this? The semi-reality of the game and and physics provide a real challenge for anyone, and I became addicted to this challenge, crash after crash, even a few Kraken visits, planetary exploration, orbital mechanics, and ship design.

This challenge has inspired me so much, I am now planning to become a part of the aerospace industry after my service ends in the US Air Force. (a few months ago I had no idea what I wanted to do after the service) I am super excited at where we are right now as humans in terms of space exploration. My main goal of this decision is to contribute to the next landmark in human exploration, the first manned landing on Mars. I have much schooling ahead, but I have already started studying for the necessary degrees on the side. (My current job keeps me pretty busy, as a translator you are never done learning lol). I just wanted to say thank you so much to Squad and the whole KSP community for creating the catalyst that is taking me to the next step in my life, and maybe even mankind itself. (who knows how many others feel the same way as I do?!) If it has insipred you in same way, like myself, please share it!

Safe travels everyone!

CчðÑÂтûøòыe ÿутõшõÑÂтòøõ!

RedKosmos

[0x7be]

I've used KSP as testbed for training my project management skills

[Motokid600]

That's awesome man best of luck to you in the future. As for me? I'm getting some people together for a weather balloon project. Going to send up a gopro and retrieve it. After that I want to build a rocket that I can send up with another balloon. Fire engines just before the balloon pops and see how fast it gets up too. Suborbital velocities would be nice to see, but I imagine retrieving the black box will be a little harder lol.

All because of this video game.

Imagine a rocket like this

Fired at a 45 degree angle at 30,000km.

Might have to leave the country though too many regulations in the states.

Edited August 21, 2013 by Motokid600

[Karriz]

I've learned orbital mechanics from KSP. I was very interested in space even before playing KSP, but it has definitely made me even more interested.

Getting a job from space industry would certainly be a dream come true, being able to do something so important.

[regex]

KSP re-sparked my interest in space. It has also sucked up all of my gaming time.

[Camelotking524]

KSP erased the concept of free time from my life.

[RedKosmos]

That's awesome man best of luck to you in the future. As for me? I'm getting some people together for a weather balloon project. Going to send up a gopro and retrieve it. After that I want to build a rocket that I can send up with another balloon. Fire engines just before the balloon pops and see how fast it gets up too. Suborbital velocities would be nice to see, but I imagine retrieving the black box will be a little harder lol.

That's awesome! I've had some exposure to meteorology myself. So are you already a meteorologist doing extra rocket work, or just a rocket builder?

[Cydonian Monk]

This game has dredged up the science/engineering parts of my mind that I buried and repressed in order to stay sane in a programming job. ... It's forced me to relearn things I'd forgotten, and learn new things I never thought I'd need.

Edited August 22, 2013 by Cydonian Monk
What kind of a foul negative mood was I in when I first wrote that bit I edited out...? Sorry. :)

[Motokid600]

That's awesome! I've had some exposure to meteorology myself. So are you already a meteorologist doing extra rocket work, or just a rocket builder?

No were just gonna get the largest balloon money can buy lol. As for rockets yea a few friends of mine are ameture builders. Not to the extent in that video ( yet ) but were learning. It's hard there's a lot of red tape that needs to be dealt with.

[Geschosskopf]

Since I discovered KSP, I drink more and sleep less.

[Beeman]

This game pretty much just changed how I think about space. I mean, I already knew about satellites and things in orbit traveling really fast, but you never think about it, really. Now I do because I'm the one trying to get things into orbit to do various things up there.

[King Arthur]

I've learned orbital mechanics from KSP.

Pretty much this. While I've always been a space nerd thanks to my dad, KSP gave me an easy-to-understand crash course on orbital mechanics and what terms like "apoaps" and "periaps" meant. Very fun stuff to learn about!

[DJEN]

It teached me orbital mechanics.

That's all.

[Seret]

I am now planning to become a part of the aerospace industry after my service ends in the US Air Force.

<snip>

I have much schooling ahead, but I have already started studying for the necessary degrees on the side.

Get as much of this done while you're still in uniform. Look into what educational stuff you're entitled to. From US servicemen I've spoken to it sounds like you've got some pretty generous educational benefits. Cane them hard. Get as much out of the service as you can before you eject into civvy street. As an ex-serviceman myself I can vouch for the fact that military service can set you up career-wise if you're smart and milk them for everything you can get while you're still in.

As a translator you might be able to get into technical writing, and get your foot in the door with an engineering organisation that way. From technical writing you could get into QA, training or similar.

Good luck!

Edited August 22, 2013 by Seret

[JiWint]

I wanna fly to the mun now. I learned a lot of English here too XD

[Van Disaster]

KSP re-sparked my interest in space. It has also sucked up all of my gaming time.

Ditto. It's also making me feel stupid ( or at least interacting with smart people is ) which is a grand motivator to (re)learn a lot of relevant physics/maths/engineering, so in a way it's good therapy for post-accident brain damage.

[Pixel of Life]

This game pretty much just changed how I think about space. I mean, I already knew about satellites and things in orbit traveling really fast, but you never think about it, really. Now I do because I'm the one trying to get things into orbit to do various things up there.

This. Thanks to KSP, I appreciate space and space exploration so much more than before I started playing. It made me really understand that space is the future of humankind.

[luckyhendrix]

it helped me to totally fail my exams session

[Kerbart]

KSP has taught me that, unlike in my twenties, I really cannot function on four hours of sleep per day.

That doesn't stop me from trying though.

[NinjaPenguin]

Thanks to KSP I just started my studies in Aerospace Engineering today.

So I think I owe a huge thanks to the people at Squad

Oh and of course I unterstood orbital mechanics.

Edited August 22, 2013 by NinjaPenguin

[DeepSpaceDutch]

Since I discovered KSP, I drink more and sleep less.

^THIS

Also I have been interested in spaceflight since I can remember, but now actually knowing about orbital mechanics, I LOVE it!! Working the nav-ball on a manual landing on Vall or the Mun, understanding how to rendevouz, the patience and satisfaction of a manual docking. I can really sit back with a cold beer and just watch my 400 ton spacestation peacefully orbit Kerbin.

I have quite a busy work and personal life, so I really need to schedule my KSP time, or my "playing with the little green men" as my GF puts it. But outside those scheduled hours I am thinking and drawing new designs. What do I need for a tour of the Jool system? How am I going to make lander capable of returning from Laythe and Vall? Eve is still on the list but I'm not confident enough yet. Installing Kethane and KAS is still on the list too. So many things, so many challenges....I will play this game for years to come.

[DeepSpaceDutch]

Thanks to KSP I just started my studies in Aerospace Engineering today.

So I think I owe a huge thanks to the people at Squad

Oh and of course I unterstood orbital mechanics.

If I would be working at SQUAD these would be the replies that would keep me going. How cool is it to develop something that has such a positive impact on younger people!!

[Kerbart]

Thanks to KSP I just started my studies in Aerospace Engineering today.

So I think I owe a huge thanks to the people at Squad

It actually scares the **** out of me knowing that future aircraft and rockets are going to be designed by somebody who picked up his design habits in KSP

[RedKosmos]

It actually scares the **** out of me knowing that future aircraft and rockets are going to be designed by somebody who picked up his design habits in KSP

Hahahahaha! We all need to start from somewhere. But I'm more looking at a hands on job in the industry, not so much a number crunching job. So, I think the future is safe.........as long as Jeb doesn't physically manifest himself in our world.........

[Jenteb07]

My interest in everything related to space and spaceflight has returned and exploded since I play this game.