Kerbal Space Program has support for user-created mods that add new features, such as interstellar, new parts, and multiplayer.

From the space center players can build various vehicles such as rockets, aircraft, spaceplanes, and rovers from a provided set of components.

[13] Provided it maintains sufficient thrust and fuel, a spacecraft can enter orbit around Kerbin, or travel to other celestial bodies.

Spacecraft maneuver 'nodes' can be plotted, timed, and executed, and objects can be selected and 'targeted' to facilitate flybys, rendezvous, and docking.

[13] Missions (either player-set or assigned "contracts") involve goals such as reaching a certain altitude, escaping the atmosphere, reaching a stable orbit,[14] landing on a certain planetary body, rescuing stranded astronauts, capturing asteroids, and creating space stations and surface bases.

Kerbals on EVA can collect and cache science experiments, plant flags on the surfaces of planets and moons, and repair spacecraft.

Certain parts in the game are based on real-life hardware, such as the Probodobodyne Stayputnik (an analogue of Sputnik 1), the Mk1-3 Command Pod (Apollo CM), and the KS-25 'Vector' (RS-25).

Various community-developed mods can add features such as additional parts, informational displays detailing orbital characteristics, and autopilot functionalities.

[16] The game's solar system is loosely based on the real-world Solar System, consisting of the planets Moho, Eve, Kerbin, Duna, Dres, Jool, and Eeloo, which are respectively analogues of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Ceres, Jupiter, and Pluto.

Many players have used the Sandbox mode to implement replicas of historical real-life vehicles, as well as create impractically large or complex spacecraft.

Players must travel to and perform experiments at various sites around Kerbin, outer space, and on other celestial bodies to gain 'science', which can be used to unlock additional parts.

Some celestial bodies have atmospheres of varying heights and densities, affecting the impact of drag on wings and parachutes.

The Making History expansion, released March 2018, adds additional elements to the game, some of which are historic parts from the Space Race.

In October 2010, development on Kerbal Space Program was authorized by co-founder Adrian Goya but deferred until Falanghe had completed his projects.

[33] Later versions added additional planets and moons, as well as the ability to load and save collections of parts, known as "subassemblies".

[43] Squad released Version 1.2, nicknamed Loud And Clear, to upgrade the game from Unity 5 to 5.4 and introduce performance and minor gameplay improvements.

[33] On 27 January 2014, it was revealed that Squad was working on an education-themed version of the game entitled KerbalEdu in collaboration with TeacherGaming LLC, creators of MinecraftEdu.

[47] On 5 June 2015, it was announced that Kerbal Space Program was being ported to the PlayStation 4 by Flying Tiger Entertainment.

In January 2017, one of Squad's developers had finally broke the silence on the official forums, and admitted that despite initial enthusiasm to release the game on the Wii U, they claimed that various "external factors" has forced them to reevaluate supporting the console.

[49] On 17 March 2017, Squad announced a full expansion for the game; called Making History, it would be paid and contain new features.

[23] The expansion contains many parts inspired by those used in various rockets such as the Soyuz spacecraft and the Saturn V.[22] Squad announced in May 2017 that Kerbal Space Program has been acquired by publisher Take-Two Interactive; this acquisition does not affect Squad's development or plans for the game and early backers will still get free DLC, and with Take-Two's help as a publisher, better support Kerbal Space Program on consoles to keep those versions to-date alongside the PC version.

[51] In late May 2019, Squad released the Breaking Ground expansion, which includes servos, pistons, new and redesigned space suits, and experiments which can be deployed to earn science over time.

Many publications have spoken positively of the game, praising its replay value and creative aspects, including Kotaku,[64] Rock, Paper, Shotgun,[13][65] IGN,[66] GameSpy,[67] Eurogamer,[14] Polygon,[21] and Destructoid.

[69] They praised the "perfect blend of science and slapstick", as well as the sense of accomplishment felt upon reaching other planets and completing goals.

"[17] In their review, Edge thought that "The magic of Kerbal Space Program is not just that it manages to be both a game and a simulation, a high-level educational tool and something that is fun to simply sit and tinker with.

Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Kerbal Space Program for "Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year" and the "D.I.C.E.

In March 2015, Squad and 3D printing service Eucl3D announced a partnership that would allow players to order custom models of their craft.

In collaboration with ESA, Squad added components for the BepiColombo and Rosetta spacecraft along with several ESA-themed textures for in-game parts in version 1.10.

For the second orbital test flight of the Boeing Starliner which docked with the International Space Station in May 2022, the crew brought a Kerbal plush on the vessel to be used as the zero gravity indicator.

[77][78][79][80] Kerbal Space Program 2 planned to build on the sandbox features of its predecessor, Kerbal Space Program, by adding elements such as new propulsion methods (e.g. the Orion drive), habitation modules for building on-surface, orbital and planetary colonies, a multiplayer mode, as well as interstellar travel[81][82] throughout the course of its early access.