To visualize vehicle trajectory, the player must switch into map mode this displays the orbit or trajectory of the player vehicle, as well as the position and trajectory of other spacecraft and planetary bodies. Provided it maintains sufficient thrust and fuel, a spacecraft can enter orbit or even travel to other celestial bodies. Players control their spacecraft in three dimensions with little assistance other than a Stability Assist System (SAS) to keep their rocket oriented. Once built, the craft can be launched by players from the KSC launch pad or runway in an attempt to complete player-set or game-directed missions while avoiding partial or catastrophic failure (such as lack of fuel or structural failure). From this space center players can create rockets, aircraft, spaceplanes, rovers, and other craft from a provided set of components.

The player administers a space program operated by Kerbals, a species of small green humanoids, who have constructed a spaceport called the Kerbal Space Center (KSC) on their home planet, Kerbin. In-game Kerbals, female on the viewer's left, male on the right, standing on the launchpad A sequel, Kerbal Space Program 2, has been announced for a 2022 release. Two expansions for the game have been released as downloadable content: Making History in March 2018 and Breaking Ground in May 2019. An Enhanced Edition was released on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in January 2018, and set to be release in 2021 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S by Private Division, a publishing subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive. In May 2017, Squad announced that the game was purchased by video game company Take-Two Interactive, who will help support Squad in keeping the console versions up-to-date alongside the personal computer versions. People and agencies in the space industry have taken an interest in the game, including NASA, the European Space Agency, United Launch Alliance CEO Tory Bruno, and Peter Beck, CEO and CTO of Rocket Lab. Popular mods have received support and inclusion in the game by Squad. Kerbal Space Program has support for user-created mods that add new features. The game was released out of beta on 27 April 2015.

The first public version was released digitally on Squad's Kerbal Space Program storefront on 24 June 2011, and joined Steam's early access program on 20 March 2013. The game features a realistic orbital physics engine, allowing for various real-life orbital maneuvers such as Hohmann transfer orbits and orbital rendezvous. Kerbal Space Program ( KSP) is a space flight simulation video game developed by Mexican developer Squad and published by Private Division for Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, In the game, players direct a nascent space program, staffed and crewed by green humanoid aliens known as 'Kerbals'.

Kerbal space program loud and clear