Category Archive: News

What's going on at the Kerbal Space Agency

Dec 26 2015

Launch Stream Testing

The issues that have plagued Chrome users when trying to watch the video during launch streaming appears to be fixed as far as I can tell from what testing I have done. Turns out Chrome only likes to load OGV videos and only when it is the only option available. I don’t know – I tried at least half a dozen other solutions I found searching around the web before stumbling across this on my own based on someone saying that Chrome wouldn’t load any video if either MP4 or Webm were present and I only had to remove one or the other. Well turns out I needed to remove both. Okay. (Non-Chrome browsers still get a pick of MP4, Webm and OGV). So with that out of the way I’m going to run two launches today – both will be exactly the same so if you catch one no need to catch another – unless you want to. I decided against using the MkIII sounding rocket because it is too close to what I will be doing once the KSA reboots. Instead I strapped two boosters on the Docking Test Probe and finally got that up into orbit 😛

Launch Times

Launch #1: 17:00:00 UTC
Launch #2: 23:00:00 UTC

The more people who can watch the better, as before there will be an optional survey you can participate in after the launch is over – please note that even if you don’t want to fill anything out, a lot of debug information is filled out automatically so just going to the form and pressing Submit helps me greatly!

Spread the word!

Dec 21 2015

Lifetime Survey Results

Got some great feedback from the survey, a total of 37 people participated which is actually more than I hoped for. I’m going to directly address all of the feedback here to give everyone an idea of how it will affect the new Kerbal Space Agency coming in 2016

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Dec 16 2015

The KSA is dead, long live the KSA!!

R.I.P. the Kerbal Space Agency, 2014-2015.

At least, the KSA as you all have come to know it. Yes, it is time for me to utter the word that can send shivers down the spine of anyone who has grown attached to a fictional universe – reboot. There, I said it. Run screaming from this website if you must, berate me all you want, hate me forever – or stick around and see if I can’t convince you why I think this is a good idea.

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Nov 24 2015

Launch Survey Results

25 respondents to the post-launch survey wasn’t too bad. Okay actually it’s 21 respondents since I submitted three from my devices and one I know came from a friend who did some late beta testing. But still! Data! I’m going to address everything from the survey here.

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Nov 20 2015

KSA Launch Operations Temporarily Suspended

From the KSA Board of Directors

We were recently approached by agents of the United Kerbin Wildlife Preservation Society, who had been tracking a large flock of water fowl migrating west across the Kerblantic (in other words, towards us here at KSC). The birds arrived in our area at the end of September and appeared to be making a stopover, but to the surprise of UKWPS agents and biologists the birds stuck around. 2 weeks ago an underwater volcano erupted on the seabed 750km northwest of KSC, spewing vast amounts of heat and nutrients into the waters near a major ocean current that carried it west and down the coast. Large plankton blooms followed in its wake and have created an abundance of food for the birds, which feed off fish that feed off the plankton. Now not only have the birds eaten so much they can barely fly, it seems they have also begun their breeding season early. Nesting has already begun in earnest and reports of egg clutches will not be far behind. The birds raise their young as a family unit and rearing the chick can take 2-3 months before they are able to keep up with the parents on their long flights.

These animals are currently registered as a critically endangered species.

The Wildlife Preservation Society has requested that the Kerbal Space Agency cease all launch operations in order to allow the birds a stress-free environment in which to raise healthy chicks that will further boost the resurgence of the species thanks also in part to this bountiful yet temporary food resource. They were very distressed by the effect they observed in the animals from the launch yesterday and were dismayed when we told them that was just a small rocket. Although they need an injunction from the UK government to force us to cease launch operations, the time it would take to get one would make it pointless and any damage that could be done would have been done. They are instead requesting our cooperation in helping to preserve a species and after several hours of deliberation and consultation with our various partners and financial officials we have decided to support the Wildlife Preservation Society and temporarily suspend launch operations for the duration of the breeding season.

While we are dedicated to exploring space and furthering the reach of kerbalkind, we recognize that we are still bound to this world that must be shared with all living creatures and will not put our needs and desires ahead of other species. We look forward to being able to launch new missions again in early 2016, but in the meantime have plenty of other missions both in planning and ongoing to keep focus on.

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Oct 27 2015

The Current State of Affairs for United Kerbin & the KSA

Dispatch from the United Kerbin Government & Kerbal Space Agency

Last week, a malicious software virus began to infect computer systems across the territories of United Kerbin. Harmless on its own with no directives to cause any damage to systems, it instead gave cyber teams from the UKKR a back door to hack into vital UK infrastructure. This new type of warfare was talked about by many UK security experts, but no one thought the UKKR possessed the knowledge or technology to pull off such a feat of coordinated electronic attack. While measures were being drawn up in Assembly to pass legislature that would begin to upgrade systems to defend against such an attack, nothing had yet been implemented along these lines.

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Aug 18 2015

Report on the Recovery of Missing Kerbal X Space Research Executives

From the United Kerbin Government

This past weekend, on August 14th, a military patrol along the conflict border between United Kerbin and the United Koviet Kommunist Republic detected a group of individuals attempting to cross over into UK territory. Upon apprehension, it was revealed to be 3 of the 5 Kerbal X Space Research executives who had failed to appear for testimony at a trial back in June regarding the audit of the Kerbal Space Agency. The members of the executive board were suspected of taking both money and knowledge over to the UKKR sometime in July, when one of the execs was arrested near the border. He was later killed in an accident while being transported to Kerbalopolis for questioning. Although no evidence of foul play was found, UK intelligence asserts that the UKKR has the resources to pull off a clean assassination.

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Jun 25 2015

Latest Report on the KSA Audit and Operation Suspension

From the United Kerbin Government

Today a hearing was held in Kerbalopolis to allow KSA Operations Director and Board Chair Drew Kerman a chance to directly address the allegations put forth by the UK Treasury regarding the fraudulent handling of funds over the course of the Agency’s year and a half worth of operations. Presiding over the hearing was Lead Case Investigator Gimjon Kerman from the UK Treasury Bureau, who spent over 2 hours grilling Drew on various aspects of the KSA finances and business relationships. Walworf Kerman, the head accountant at KSA initially arrested and charged with fraudulent activities, was also present to give testimony on his actions. A representative from Kerbal X Space Research was asked to attend, but failed to appear.

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Jun 03 2015

Update on the Status of KSA Operations

From the United Kerbin Government

The ongoing fraud investigation of the Kerbal Space Agency by the UK Treasury Bureau has announced today that it has found further evidence of funds being mishandled by KSA’s business associate Kerbal X Space Research, and has dispatched a subpoena for documents from their financial records as well. It remains unclear at this time what the two companies were trying to cover up with regard to their altered financial records, or to what extent the managing partners of both companies were involved. KSA Chair and Operations Director Drew Kerman continues to insist that he and his board had no prior knowledge of any “funny business” regarding the company’s financials and he has agreed to testify at a hearing in Kerbalopolis later this month. Lead Case Investigator Gimjon Kerman from the UK Treasury Bureau has his team following up on this new development and calls it “disturbing”. The Treasury will maintain its lock-down on any and all credit previously extended to KSA, forcing the company to continue to withhold from costly operations, including the majority of its day-to-day activities. The Presider, a long-time fan of the KSA and all that it has so far achieved for Kerbin, has gone on record saying “I am disheartened to see such unscrupulous worldly affairs drag down an Agency meant to lift our people above and beyond such things”.

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May 11 2015

Official Statements Regarding Ongoing/Future KSA Operations

From the United Kerbin Government

Last week, the Kerbal Space Agency’s head accountant Walworf Kerman was arrested by the United Kerbin Treasury Bureau and charged with multiple accounts of fraud in connection to various financial reports in both spending and earning statements put forth by the private company over the past year and 3 months. The UK Treasury has frozen all KSA accounts and demanded a full audit on all company finances, from Research & Development to active operations. Company Chair and Director Drew Kerman has said he is cooperating fully with Treasury officials and hopes it won’t take too long to prove that Walworf was acting alone and under no direction by the KSA or its business partners. All ongoing KSA operations have been suspended, although Lead Case Investigator Gimjon Kerman has stated that their first priority will be to identify all clean accounts from which the Agency can continue to draw funds. It is the hope of the Presider and his Assembly that the KSA will be able to resume limited operations within a few weeks, as they consider the endeavor of space exploration to be of utmost importance for the future of United Kerbin, and all kerbalkind.

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