Developer Squad has confirmed that Kerbal Space Program will be teaming up with the ESA (European Space Agency) with the Shared Horizons update on July 1.
This will be a free update for everyone, which will include the Ariane 5, Europe's heavy-lifting launcher and give you the opportunity to tackle real ESA missions. Ariane 5 isn't making a small cameo either, it's getting the full treatment with all the stages, engines and systems of the launch vehicle.
"We are excited to partner with ESA to bring their actual missions and spacecraft to Kerbal Space Program for the first time," said Michael Cook, Executive Producer at Private Division. "It is an honour to work hand-in-hand with such a world-class space organisation, and we cannot wait for fans to experience these monumental missions with the Shared Horizons update."
As for the actual scenarios that will come they are:
- BepiColombo - an ongoing joint mission between ESA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), launched on an Ariane 5 rocket in 2018 and currently en route to Mercury. In KSP it will task you with reaching Moho (KSP's equivalent of Mercury) and landing successfully.
- Rosetta - paying tribute to ESA's iconic mission to Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. So yes, comets are coming to KSP (confirmed)!
Full info can be found here.
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