I have been playing Kerbal Space Program for 2 months now, and I’m completely blown away! But to call KSP a game, simply doesn’t do it justice. KSP is a space program simulator for the PC/Mac/Linux that allows you to design and build spacecraft and space planes, launch them, get them into orbit, perform space missions (some simple, some VERY complex), land on other worlds, and explore them. What I learned about orbital mechanics running just the first 2 training missions is incredible! KSP visually teaches you the physics of flight and orbital mechanics; there have been several “lightbulb moments” for me – teachers will appreciate this! The developers have collaborated with NASA and made an in-game mission mirroring the real-world NASA Asteroid Redirect Mission; as I was writing this, an Asteroid Day mod was released – including a new infrared space telescope, modeling the real-world asteroid-hunting Sentinel Mission. KSP has an enormous user community, and mods have come out … Continue reading →