Planned features

The features listed here are planned for future versions of Kerbal Space Program. This list may change during the course of development. If a feature is present in a mod, there may be a link to the mod.

Future releases

This section lists all planned features for future releases. Entries highlighted in Green have already been added to the game, and entries in Blue are planned for the next update (soon). Please note that these features in blue may be pushed back. Entries in Yellow have been partially implemented.

Please note that these features are not a commitment, and the dev team is not under any obligation to implement them all.

Right now, improving the audio is the primary objective. The next version (0.18) does not have any other goal yet.

Flight Operations

• Better parachute control[1]
• Trajectory/Orbital Display UI
• Full map view with 3D trajectory/orbital information
• Abort Sequence, for emergencies
• E.V.As- Extravehicular activities (Moving around outside of the Craft)
• I.V.As- Intravehicular activity
• Enhanced I.V.As (Moving and interacting inside of the Craft)
• Internal and Camera views with a full virtual cockpit
• Persistence (saving) and switching between multiple ships
• Docking
• Time acceleration [2]
• Crew Tasks: Have the crew take charge of controlling the ship (provided they can handle it)
• Prebuilt ships, for tutorials or as examples
• Training scenarios as in-depth tutorials

Space Center

• Astronaut Complex : Hire and train kerbonauts
• Research and Development : Discover and Improve Parts (from a tech tree)
• Part recovery[3]
• Runway : to land on or launch from
• Spaceplane hangar : A secondary VAB, that allows for horizontal (belly-down) construction
• Mission Control Room : Create flight plans and take on missions and challenges
• Tracking Station: Keep track of orbiting objects and ongoing missions
• Observatory : Discover new celestial bodies to visit

Spacecraft Construction

• Exploded View : A schematic visualization of the ship, allowing for greater control over ship functionality
• Tweakables : Context menu when rightclicking on a part[4]
• Stack Extensions : Fairings, structural reinforcements and solid-booster fuel plugs
• Side-mounts : Liquid-fueled parallel stages, drop-tanks, and cargo pods
• Spacecraft Stats: Total Weight, Loaded Fuel (per Stage?) Center of mass, thrust, lift and drag
• Saving Parts: The ability to save parts and reuse them in a different ship, like a lander. [5]

Physics / Dynamics

• Better model of atmospheric pressure and drag.
• Splashdowns and floating parts.
• Wind / Turbulence conditions
• Reentry heat
• Possibility of reentry heat weakening structural connections [6]

Scenery / Graphics

• Procedural quadtree-based terrain engine
• Clouds (weather?)
• Static Particles (cloudlets)
• Long-duration smoke trails
• Fuel-dependent larger explosions
• Asteroids
• 4 planets and 6 moons [7]
• 3 gas planets, moons and an asteroid belt[8]
• Better scenery for space center scene
• Matching launchpad scenery in flight
• Cities and other geographic points of reference
• Space Center Facilities can be destroyed by crash-landing onto them, and fixing them will cost you.[9]

Audio

• ​ More and better sound effects
• In-Game Music

Game / Engine

• Settings Screen
• Input Mapping
• In-Game Settings screen
• Joystick/Gamepad support
• Mac OS X Support
• OSC Data Interface, for connectivity with external applications
• Faster game loading

Modding

• A more complete SDK and documentation (You can help by adding to the wiki!)
• Normal map support for part textures
• More modding opportunities than just parts

Web Services

Feature	Status
Downloads through Amazon S3 (short-term)	Released in 0.17.1 Patches Full Downloads
Downloads through BitTorrent (long-term)	Planning
Load-balanced Repair Packages	Feasibility Analysis