Kerbal Space Program Is Getting Free Shared Horizons Expansion

A new (and free!) expansion pack has been revealed for Kerbal Space Program. Entitled Shared Horizons, the new update comes from a partnership between Private Division and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Shared Horizons will introduce two new missions, along with the landmark rocket Ariane 5, an ESA-themed Kerbal space suit, new ship construction parts and even some new science experiments to get stuck into.

Credit: Private Division

The first new mission will be called BepiColombo, and will “recreate the ESA’s ongoing joint mission between the ESA and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to Mercury.”

According to Private Division, “players will attempt to reach orbit and land on Moho, the equivalent of Mercury in the Kerbal universe, while performing various scientific tasks from the actual ESA mission.”

Credit: Private Division

The second new mission, Rosetta, will “pay tribute to the successful landing on a Jupiter-family comet, an event that enabled the gathering of important data on the comet’s environment.” Rosetta will be “based upon historic ESA missions, the challenges provide an opportunity for players to experience these thrilling space discovery moments in Kerbal Space Program.”

“We are excited to partner with the ESA to bring their actual missions and spacecraft to Kerbal Space Program for the first time,” said Michael Cook, Executive Producer at Private Division.

Credit: Private Division

“It is an honor to work hand-in-hand with such a world-class space organization, and we cannot wait for fans to experience these monumental missions with the Shared Horizons update.” 

“Here at the European Space Agency, many of our engineers and scientists are very familiar with KSP,” said Günther Hasinger, Director of Science at ESA.

“Both Rosetta and BepiColombo are highly complex missions that have specific challenges; however, each prove to be very rewarding for ESA and the global scientific community. Because of this, I am very happy that these ground-breaking science missions can be experienced on Kerbin as well as on Earth.”

Credit: Private Division

The Kerbal Space Program: Shared Horizons update will be available for PC on July 1, 2020, with console releases planned for later this year. 

Featured Image Credit: Private Division