Kerbal Space Center
| Kerbal Space Center | ||
 | ||
| Location |  Kerbin
| |
| Coordinates Map |
0° 6′ 9″ S | |
| 74° 34′ 31″ W | ||
| Altitude | ~68.41 m | |
| Since version | 0.7.3 | |
The Kerbal Space Center (abbr. KSC), located on Kerbin, is the main area where all management of the Kerbal Space Program happens. It features thirteen buildings and structures on an approximately 25 km² plateau. All buildings, except for the runway, are placed on hexagonal sections and can be destroyed if Indestructible Facilities is disabled in the difficulty settings.
In Career mode, the buildings can be upgraded and have three levels, with the starting buildings having significant restrictions, including limitations on craft mass, action groups, or the ability to track asteroids. Building upgrades cost funds and can be requested by right clicking the building in question.
The KSC and each of its buildings are biomes which can be examined for science (see building articles for details). Additional biomes become available for some buildings as they are upgraded.
Contents
Primary structures
The costs shown here assume a career played on the default Normal difficulty. The actual cost for an upgrade is the number displayed below multiplied by the Funds Penalties setting.
Vehicle Assembly Building
- → Main article: Vehicle Assembly Building
The Vehicle Assembly Building (abbr. VAB) is a large construction facility at KSC, where rockets and other vertically launched spacecraft can be designed. Craft designed in the VAB can only be launched from the Launch Pad, though it is possible to import vessels between the VAB and SPH.
| Level | Cost | Supported part count | Action groups available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 30 | None |
| 2 | 225 000 | 255 | Basic: Abort, Brakes, Gear, Lights, RCS, SAS, Stage |
| 3 | 845 000 | Unlimited | Basic and Custom 1-10 |
The default actions associated with the basic groups (except abort) are always available - it's always possible to stage, turn lights on and off, etc. - but until the VAB is upgraded they can't contain arbitrary actions.
Launch pad
- → Main article: Launch Pad
Craft designed in the VAB will be launched from the launch pad. This launch platform allows vertical launches, or may serve as a starting point for rovers. It is too small to be useful for craft that require take off or landing runs.
| Level | Cost | Max vessel height (m) | Max vessel width (m) | Max vessel mass (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 20.0 | 21.2 | 18 |
| 2 | 75 000 | 36.0 | 39.6 | 140 |
| 3 | 282 000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Spaceplane Hangar
- → Main article: Spaceplane Hangar
The Spaceplane Hangar (abbr. SPH) is a facility similar to the VAB that allows construction of aircraft and spacecraft in a horizontal environment which can then be launched from a conventional runway.
| Level | Cost | Supported part count | Action groups available |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 30 | None |
| 2 | 225 000 | 255 | Basic: Abort, Brakes, Gear, Lights, RCS, SAS, Stage |
| 3 | 845 000 | Unlimited | Basic and Custom 1-10 |
The default actions associated with the basic groups (except abort) are always available - it's always possible to stage, turn lights on and off, etc. - but until the SPH is upgraded you can't add arbitrary actions.
Runway
- → Main article: Runway
Vessels designed in the Space Plane Hangar can only be launched from the runway. It can also be used for landing. At the moment there is only one runway (09/27) in service with a length of 2526 m going from east to west and a width of 70 m. There is also a runway on an island to the southeast, which is available for landing but not launching. By default, craft designed in the SPH face a 90° heading (facing east) and start from the west end.
The starting runway is just a dirt track. It's so uneven and bumpy that it's usually easier to land (and, with some planes, take off) on the hills to the west instead - or resort to parachutes.
| Level | Cost | Max vessel length (m) | Max vessel width/height (m) | Max vessel mass (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 20 | 15 | 18 |
| 2 | 75 000 | 36 | 28 | 140 |
| 3 | 282 000 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Tracking Station
- → Main article: Tracking Station
The Tracking Station allows access, observation and management of all missions currently active, including splashed-down or landed ships. Note that this does not include crashed or otherwise ended missions. Any Kerbals, craft or debris safely on Kerbin's surface can be recovered here (debris around the KSC can also be recovered directly from the main screen). Debris can be tracked and deleted here. Celestial bodies can also be observed at the Tracking Station.
| Level | Cost | Functions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | Orbits visible in map, flight planning available (with upgraded Mission Control) |
| 2 | 150 000 | Patched Conics visible in map |
| 3 | 563 000 | Patched Conics visible in map and unknown object tracking |
Astronaut Complex
- → Main article: Astronaut Complex
The Astronaut Complex allows hiring of astronauts to join the crew of future missions.
| Level | Cost | Capacity | Kerbals can EVA and plant flags |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 5 Kerbals | Unavailable |
| 2 | 75 000 | 12 Kerbals | Available |
| 3 | 282 000 | Unlimited | Available |
Flag Pole
- → Main article: Flag Pole
The Flag Pole is located in front of the Astronaut Complex and can be used to select a default mission flag.
Secondary structures
Research and Development
- → Main article: Research and Development
The Research and Development building allows players to unlock spacecraft parts in career and science mode by researching nodes on the tech tree. All science archives are stored here.
| Level | Cost | Science limit | Surface samples and resource transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 100 | Unavailable |
| 2 | 451 000 | 500 | Available |
| 3 | 1 690 000 | Unlimited | Available |
Mission Control
- → Main article: Mission Control
Mission Control is a small building located north of the VAB and east of the SPH. It is used for getting contracts.
| Level | Cost | Active contracts | Flight planning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 2 | Unavailable |
| 2 | 75 000 | 7 | Available |
| 3 | 282 000 | Unlimited | Available |
Administration Building
- → Main article: Administration Building
The Administration Building is a small building in face of the Astronaut Complex. It is can be used for getting/using strategies.
| Level | Cost | Active strategies | Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start | 1 | 25.0% |
| 2 | 150 000 | 3 | 60.0% |
| 3 | 563 000 | 5 | 100.0% |
Non-functional structures
Coolant Tanks
A big globular Coolant Tank with a climbable ladder as well as three smaller Coolant Tanks can be found south-west of the Launchpad.
Water Tower
Located south-east of the Launchpad, the Water Tower is about as tall as 1/3 of the VAB. It is part of an unseen, non-functional Sound Suppression Water System similar to the one at Launch Complex 39 in real life.
Flag Pole
A second flag pole can be found on the northwest of the Launch Pad.
Crawlerway
The crawlerway connects VAB with the launchpad. It's upgraded along with the launchpad, getting more advanced tracks.
Location of the functional buildings in the Space Center
Location of the KSC on Kerbin, From Orbit
The KSC is on a roughly square-shaped, sandy peninsula on the east coast of an Africa-shaped continent. The launch pad is precisely on the equator. To assist in spotting the KSC from orbit, please refer to this handy map (it's marked with the red arrow):
See also
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