For months now the R&D branch of the KSA has been working tirelessly to turn kethane, an abundant mineral found both here on Kerbin and in spectra on other bodies in the solar system, into rocket fuel. Not only would this greatly reduce our dependency on other sources of propellant, it would allow us to refuel in-situ, saving costs and weight on future missions to the surface of other planets and moons. The road was long but eventually scientists were able to deploy and test a drill and converter unit here on Kerbin.