Return to Answer

In my former job I was writing educational software.

In short, it's exactly what you described: we offered a paid version of what you could get for free by looking out on the internet, going to class, going to the library, ...

And yet, I'm still incredibly proud of it, knowing I made a difference.

What is the difference between well written software and a book?

It's all about pedagogy. Not only did our apps offer knowledge, they did so in a fun way. This is not about making the knowledge available, it's about making it desirable. With our apps, the kids not only learned (exactly the same content as they would've with books), but they actually wanted to!

That made all the difference.

Sure, maybe knowledge is enough of a motivation for you to learn about something, and thus you don't actually need this kind of software, but for many kids they need just a little bit more to get interested into learning, doing exercises, ...

Let me explain with some real life KSP examples:

• KSP can be used as a simulator.

You got an interesting idea about creating an orbital refueling station around the moon? Try it out and see the difference!

Want to try fuel saving by using a gravitational assist? Go ahead.

Will more boosters suffice to double your payload? Not even close.

Sure you could take a sheet of paper and do the computations, but seeing it live on your screen, with the rocket and station you build and put in orbit yourself is a whole different thing.

• It's a driving force to make you research things you wouldn't have searched otherwise.

How to calculate if my ship has enough fuel to reach Saturn?
=> Learn about ISPs, rocket equation, ...

What is the optimal trajectory to go to orbit?
=> Learn about gravity drag, atmospheric drag, ...

This game builds up your interest in space. This is why they got a partnership with NASA and built a part of the game around it.

• It allows you to experience things

Some of the concepts of orbital mechanics are hard.

Sure you can read 10 times about why you need to decelerate in orbit to overtake another spaceship.

Sure you can learn that rendezvous is not aiming for where the other spaceship is, but where it will be.

• It makes you ponder engineering challenges

Did I forgot the ladder?

Are 3 landing legs better than 4?

Is my CG too high? Is it aligned with my vector of thrust?

Should my aerodynamic surfaces go on top or bottom?

Should I put this booster further apart to facilitate separation, or will the induced stability issues, pilot induced oscillation destroy/slow down my rocket?

KSP lets you experience all this, making it much easier to understand and internalise rather than just reading about it.

Let me conclude with a quote from a NASA engineer, about the failed rendezvous of Gemini 4:

There is a good explanation for what went wrong with rendezvous. The crew, like everyone else at MSC, "just didn't understand or reason out the orbital mechanics involved[...].

Yes that's right. Kids playing KSP now have a better understanding of orbital mechanics than NASA engineers and astronauts from 1965.

In my former job I was writing educational software.

In short, it's exactly what you described: we offered a paid version of what you could get for free by looking out on the internet, going to class, going to the library, ...

And yet, I'm still incredibly proud of it, knowing I made a difference.

What is the difference between well written software and a book?

It's all about pedagogy. Not only did our apps offer knowledge, they did so in a fun way. This is not about making the knowledge available, it's about making it desirable. With our apps, the kids not only learned (exactly the same content as they would've with books), but they actually wanted to!

That made all the difference.

Sure, maybe knowledge is enough of a motivation for you to learn about something, and thus you don't actually need this kind of software, but for many kids they need just a little bit more to get interested into learning, doing exercises, ...

Let me explain with some real life KSP examples:

• KSP can be used as a simulator.

Got an interesting idea about creating an orbital refueling station around the moon? Try it out and see the difference!

Want to try fuel saving by using a gravitational assist? Go ahead.

Will more boosters suffice to double your payload? Not even close.

Sure you could take a sheet of paper and do the computations, but seeing it live on your screen, with the rocket and station you build and put in orbit yourself is a whole different thing.

• It's a driving force to make you research things you wouldn't have searched otherwise.

How to calculate if my ship has enough fuel to reach Saturn?
=> Learn about ISPs, rocket equation, ...

What is the optimal trajectory to go to orbit?
=> Learn about gravity drag, atmospheric drag, ...

This game builds up your interest in space. This is why they got a partnership with NASA and built a part of the game around it.

• It allows you to experience things

Some of the concepts of orbital mechanics are hard.

Sure you can read 10 times about why you need to decelerate in orbit to overtake another spaceship.

Sure you can learn that rendezvous is not aiming for where the other spaceship is, but where it will be.

• It makes you ponder engineering challenges

Did I forget the ladder?

Are 3 landing legs better than 4?

Is my CG (center of gravity) too high? Is it aligned with my vector of thrust?

Should my aerodynamic surfaces go on the top or bottom?

Should I put this booster further apart to facilitate separation, or will the induced stability issues, pilot induced oscillation destroy/slow down my rocket?

KSP lets you experience all this, making it much easier to understand and internalise rather than just reading about it.

Let me conclude with a quote from a NASA engineer, about the failed rendezvous of Gemini 4:

There is a good explanation for what went wrong with rendezvous. The crew, like everyone else at MSC, "just didn't understand or reason out the orbital mechanics involved[...].

Yes that's right. Kids playing KSP now have a better understanding of orbital mechanics than NASA engineers and astronauts from 1965.

In my former job I was writing educational software.

In short, it's exactly what you described: we offered a paid version of what you could get for free by looking out on the internet, going to class, going to the library, ...

And yet, I'm still incredibly proud of it, knowing I made a difference.

What is the difference between a well written software and a book?

It's all about pedagogy. Not only our apps offered knowledge, they did so in a fun way. This is not about making the knowledge available, it's about making it desirable. With our apps, the kids not only learned (exactly the same content as they would've with books), but they actually wanted to!

That was made all the difference.

Sure, maybe knowledge is enough of a motivation for you to learn about something, and thus you don't actually need this kind of software, but for many kids they need just a little bit more to get interested into learning, doing exercises, ...

Let me explain with some real life KSP exemples:

• KSP can be used as a simulator.

You got an interesting idea about creating an orbital refuelling station around the moon? Try it out and see the difference!

Want to try fuel saving by using a gravitational assist? Go ahead.

Will more boosters suffice to double your payload  ? Not even close.

Sure you could take a sheet of paper and do the computations, but seeing it live on your screen, with the rocket and station you build and put in orbit yourself is a whole different thing.

• It's a driving force to make you research things you wouldn't have searched otherwise.

How to calculate if my ship has enough fuel to reach Saturn  ? => Learn about ISPs, rocket equation, ...

What is the optimal trajectory to go to orbit  ? => Learn about gravity drag, atmospheric drag, ...

This game buildup your interest into space. This is why they got a partnership with NASA and built a part of the game around it.

• It allows you to experience things

Some of the concepts of orbital mechanics are hard.

Sure you can ready 10 times about why do you need to decelerate in orbit to take over an other spaceship.

Sure you can learn that rendez vous is not aiming for where the other spaceship is, but where it WILL be.

• It makes you ponder engineering challenges

Did I forgot the ladder?

Are 3 landing legs better than 4?

Is my CG too high? Is it aligned with my vector of thrust?

Should my aerodynamic surfaces go on top or bottom?

Should I put this booster further appart to facilitate separation, or will the induced stability issues, pilot induced oscillation will destroy/slow down my rocket?

KSP lets you experience all this, making it much easier to understand and internalise rather than just reading about it.

Let me conclude with a quote from a NASA engineer, about the failed rendez vous of Gemini 6:

There is a good explanation for what went wrong with rendezvous. The crew, like everyone else at MSC, "just didn't understand or reason out the orbital mechanics involved[...].

Yes that's right. Kids playing KSP now have a better understanding of orbital mechanics than NASA engineers and astronauts from 1965.

In my former job I was writing educational software.

In short, it's exactly what you described: we offered a paid version of what you could get for free by looking out on the internet, going to class, going to the library, ...

And yet, I'm still incredibly proud of it, knowing I made a difference.

What is the difference between well written software and a book?

It's all about pedagogy. Not only did our apps offer knowledge, they did so in a fun way. This is not about making the knowledge available, it's about making it desirable. With our apps, the kids not only learned (exactly the same content as they would've with books), but they actually wanted to!

That made all the difference.

Sure, maybe knowledge is enough of a motivation for you to learn about something, and thus you don't actually need this kind of software, but for many kids they need just a little bit more to get interested into learning, doing exercises, ...

Let me explain with some real life KSP examples:

• KSP can be used as a simulator.

You got an interesting idea about creating an orbital refueling station around the moon? Try it out and see the difference!

Want to try fuel saving by using a gravitational assist? Go ahead.

Will more boosters suffice to double your payload? Not even close.

Sure you could take a sheet of paper and do the computations, but seeing it live on your screen, with the rocket and station you build and put in orbit yourself is a whole different thing.

• It's a driving force to make you research things you wouldn't have searched otherwise.

How to calculate if my ship has enough fuel to reach Saturn? 
=> Learn about ISPs, rocket equation, ...

What is the optimal trajectory to go to orbit? 
=> Learn about gravity drag, atmospheric drag, ...

This game builds up your interest in space. This is why they got a partnership with NASA and built a part of the game around it.

• It allows you to experience things

Some of the concepts of orbital mechanics are hard.

Sure you can read 10 times about why you need to decelerate in orbit to overtake another spaceship.

Sure you can learn that rendezvous is not aiming for where the other spaceship is, but where it will be.

• It makes you ponder engineering challenges

Did I forgot the ladder?

Are 3 landing legs better than 4?

Is my CG too high? Is it aligned with my vector of thrust?

Should my aerodynamic surfaces go on top or bottom?

Should I put this booster further apart to facilitate separation, or will the induced stability issues, pilot induced oscillation destroy/slow down my rocket?

KSP lets you experience all this, making it much easier to understand and internalise rather than just reading about it.

Let me conclude with a quote from a NASA engineer, about the failed rendezvous of Gemini 4:

There is a good explanation for what went wrong with rendezvous. The crew, like everyone else at MSC, "just didn't understand or reason out the orbital mechanics involved[...].

Yes that's right. Kids playing KSP now have a better understanding of orbital mechanics than NASA engineers and astronauts from 1965.

In my former job I was writing educational software.

In short, it's exactly what you described: we offered a paid version of what you could get for free by looking out on the internet, going to class, going to the library, ...

And yet, I'm still incredibly proud of it, knowing I made a difference.

What is the difference between a well written software and a book?

It's all about pedagogy. Not only our apps offered knowledge, they did so in a fun way. This is not about making the knowledge available, it's about making it desirable. With our apps, the kids not only learned (exactly the same content as they would've with books), but they actually wanted to!

That was made all the difference.

Sure, maybe knowledge is enough of a motivation for you to learn about something, and thus you don't actually need this kind of software, but for many kids they need just a little bit more to get interested into learning, doing exercises, ...

Let me explain with some real life KSP exemples:

• KSP can be used as a simulator.

You got an interesting idea about creating an orbital refuelling station around the moon? Try it out and see the difference!

Want to try fuel saving by using a gravitational assist? Go ahead.

Will more boosters suffice to double your payload ? Not even close.

Sure you could take a sheet of paper and do the computations, but seeing it live on your screen, with the rocket and station you build and put in orbit yourself is a whole different thing.

• It's a driving force to make you research things you wouldn't have searched otherwise.

How to calculate if my ship has enough fuel to reach Saturn ? => Learn about ISPs, rocket equation, ...

What is the optimal trajectory to go to orbit ? => Learn about gravity drag, atmospheric drag, ...

This game buildup your interest into space. This is why they got a partnership with NASA and built a part of the game around it.

• It allows you to experience things

Some of the concepts of orbital mechanics are hard.

Sure you can ready 10 times about why do you need to decelerate in orbit to take over an other spaceship.

Sure you can learn that rendez vous is not aiming for where the other spaceship is, but where it WILL be.

• It makes you ponder engineering challenges

Did I forgot the ladder?

Are 3 landing legs better than 4?

Is my CG too high? Is it aligned with my vector of thrust?

Should my aerodynamic surfaces go on top or bottom?

Should I put this booster further appart to facilitate separation, or will the induced stability issues, pilot induced oscillation will destroy/slow down my rocket?

KSP lets you experience all this, making it much easier to understand and internalise rather than just reading about it.

In my former job I was writing educational software.

In short, it's exactly what you described: we offered a paid version of what you could get for free by looking out on the internet, going to class, going to the library, ...

And yet, I'm still incredibly proud of it, knowing I made a difference.

What is the difference between a well written software and a book?

It's all about pedagogy. Not only our apps offered knowledge, they did so in a fun way. This is not about making the knowledge available, it's about making it desirable. With our apps, the kids not only learned (exactly the same content as they would've with books), but they actually wanted to!

That was made all the difference.

Sure, maybe knowledge is enough of a motivation for you to learn about something, and thus you don't actually need this kind of software, but for many kids they need just a little bit more to get interested into learning, doing exercises, ...

Let me explain with some real life KSP exemples:

• KSP can be used as a simulator.

You got an interesting idea about creating an orbital refuelling station around the moon? Try it out and see the difference!

Want to try fuel saving by using a gravitational assist? Go ahead.

Will more boosters suffice to double your payload ? Not even close.

Sure you could take a sheet of paper and do the computations, but seeing it live on your screen, with the rocket and station you build and put in orbit yourself is a whole different thing.

• It's a driving force to make you research things you wouldn't have searched otherwise.

How to calculate if my ship has enough fuel to reach Saturn ? => Learn about ISPs, rocket equation, ...

What is the optimal trajectory to go to orbit ? => Learn about gravity drag, atmospheric drag, ...

This game buildup your interest into space. This is why they got a partnership with NASA and built a part of the game around it.

• It allows you to experience things

Some of the concepts of orbital mechanics are hard.

Sure you can ready 10 times about why do you need to decelerate in orbit to take over an other spaceship.

Sure you can learn that rendez vous is not aiming for where the other spaceship is, but where it WILL be.

• It makes you ponder engineering challenges

Did I forgot the ladder?

Are 3 landing legs better than 4?

Is my CG too high? Is it aligned with my vector of thrust?

Should my aerodynamic surfaces go on top or bottom?

Should I put this booster further appart to facilitate separation, or will the induced stability issues, pilot induced oscillation will destroy/slow down my rocket?

KSP lets you experience all this, making it much easier to understand and internalise rather than just reading about it.

Let me conclude with a quote from a NASA engineer, about the failed rendez vous of Gemini 6:

There is a good explanation for what went wrong with rendezvous. The crew, like everyone else at MSC, "just didn't understand or reason out the orbital mechanics involved[...].

Yes that's right. Kids playing KSP now have a better understanding of orbital mechanics than NASA engineers and astronauts from 1965.