Kerbal Space Program chronicle, part four — the Kerbal has landed

Kerbal Space Program is an open-world universe simulator that specializes in modeling orbits, atmosphere, gravity and rocket physics. With nothing but your wits and an array of space vehicle parts, your task is to explore. In this chronicle, I will be recording the first missions of the PCGSA, PC Gamer's ambitious new space program.

If you want to get caught up, here are part one , part two , and part three .

The upcoming mission to the Mün requires a lot of planning. The lander is first. I add a series of radially mounted engines to a pair of fuel tanks, then bolt on a lander can big enough for two. The engines don't have a lot of thrust, but they'l be enough. I add four landing legs and a ladder, some lights, solar panels, batteries and scientific sensors. It's squat and ugly, but it will do the job.

The transport rocket is also pretty bare-bones: a three-Kerbal capsule with parachutes, large fuel tank and an engine. No frills, no funny business. I stack the lander behind the transport rocket for better aerodynamics and stability. When we dock with the Coconut Monkey Space Station to refuel, we can rearrange things for the flight to the Mün.

The downside: this thing is heavy. I consider designing a new lifter, but then I opt to reuse the lifter that got CMSS into orbit. It might be overkill, but not so much that it will matter. I double-check the staging and assign a crew. Bob, Sonford, and Newfry Kerman step up to the challenge, ready to get written into the history books.

The time has come and the ship, named Kerbal 11, sits ready. We pause while a Kerbal with spectacular hair and a strong chin takes the microphone. “This is not merely a race,” he says . “Space is open to us now; and our eagerness to share its meaning is not governed by the efforts of others. We go into space because whatever Kerbalkind must undertake, free men must fully share.” I light the engines and Kerbal 11 rockets skyward into history.

A few minutes later, as I set up for the secondary burn to circularize orbit, I get the first hint that something's not quite right. I have fuel left over. A LOT of fuel. I circularize and wow, I have a ton of fuel leftover. Mission control goes into a huddle. Do we dare change the mission on the fly and head directly for the Mün?

Latest in Sim
An ancient, angry stone mech from No Man's Sky's new Relics update
No Man’s Sky lets you unearth ancient, angry mechs in the astro-archaeology filled Relics update
Dwarf Fortress adventure mode art
After 23 years of making Dwarf Fortress, even its creator is still 'terrified' of drowning all his dwarves with aquifers: 'Part of the problem is we are just not good at videogames'
Tarn Adams, who cofounded Bay 12 Games with his brother Zach, talks about their single-player simulation game "Dwarf Fortress" during an interview at their home office in Poulsbo, Washington, west of Seattle, on December 9, 2022. - A cult favorite among indie game fans, "Dwarf Fortress" has been available for purchase on the Steam online store since December 6, a first for this title that has been distributed for free since its debut in 2006. The real-time management game, set in a medieval-fantasy world and involving overseeing a group of dwarves seeking to build a mighty fortress, has climbed to the fourth best-selling weekly title on Steam. (Photo by Jason Redmond / AFP) (Photo by JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images)
Dwarf Fortress' creator is so tired of hearing about AI: 'Press a button and it writes a really sh*tty, wrong essay about something—and they still take your job'
Decorations in TCG Card Shop Simulator
TCG Card Shop Simulator finally adds the ability to decorate our stores, and suddenly all my profits are being spent on adorable Pigni posters
A person on a snowmobile riding a track in the forest in game Sledders.
Powder enthusiasts seem pretty pleased with new physics-based realistic snowmobile sim Sledders
Dean Hall at GDC 2025.
Outer space inspired DayZ's Dean Hall to become a modder and game developer, and now he's making a Kerbal successor called Kitten Space Agency
Latest in News
A screenshot from SaGa Frontier 2, showing one of the protagonists wandering through a quaint fantasy village
One of Square Enix' most underrated PlayStation-era JRPGs just shadow dropped on Steam
The titular character from Princess Mononoke is depicted riding the wolf goddess Moro and carrying a spear.
Studio Ghibli AI image trend floods social media, cheered on by OpenAI and denounced by critics as an insult to Hayao Miyazaki
Marvel Rivals tier list - Wolverine
Marvel Rivals director says a future patch will reduce the shooter's insatiable hunger for RAM: 'It's a very big problem'
Hogwarts Legacy potions professor holding a potion
An unannounced Hogwarts Legacy expansion and 'definitive edition' have reportedly been cancelled
Story of Seasons - A cahacter in a purple tuxedo stands outside in a town square talking to the player
Story of Seasons is doing another Harvest Moon remake and it might be the best the series has ever looked
Assassin's Creed Shadows change seasons - An upper-body shot of Yasuke looking cheerfully up into the distance.
Assassin's Creed Shadows puts up the 'second highest day-one sales revenue in Assassin's Creed franchise history'