This is a curiculum segment on Advanced Physics & Engineering for a Project Based Learning (PBL) course end of school year classroom project.
Kerbal Space Program (KSP) is the best tool science professors have to teach advance physics in a Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) simulated environment (Moded with addons to act more like a real space simulation not a game). Yes, it’s all there, and it can be simulated in a class room in a 3 objective space program.
Objective One
Place communication & survey satellites networks around Kerbin (1/10 the size of Earth with same gravity 9.807 m/s^2 Earth analog), moons and planets of interest. Examples on my YouTube channel,
KSP STEM | Communication Satellite Network (ComSat) | Tutorial #1
KSP STEM | Communication Satellite Network (ComSat) | Tutorial #2
KSP STEM | Survey Satellites / Scanning Satellites (ScanSat)
This will facilitate colonization of moons and planets of interest in the future.
Objective Two
Colonize Mun (Moon analog) to practice for the colonization of Duna (Mars analog), Minmus (random asteroid analog near Kerbin) as spacecraft refueling station for interstellar travel toward Duna (plan B = capture an asteroid and place it in LKO as refueling station) and in support of Mun mission objectives.
Objective Three
Colonize Duna moon Ike (not analog to Phobos or Deimos) in support of colonization efforts in Duna with a window to return back to Kerbin (Earth analog) in 2 years. All kind of logistic operations should be planned for 3 years total, return trip included, & redundant supplies for additional 3 years should be also planned in case of emergencies.
The teacher becomes the US President, the students democratically select a student to become the NASA Director, their boss, which the US President (the teacher) could dismiss if not effective with the objectives. The NASA Director and students divide NASA in different departments with student leaders in each of them for example PROPULTIONS, LOGISTICS, SPACECRAFT DESIGN, COMSAT-SCANSAT OPS, etc.
Evaluation
Grades are given through the accomplishment of each objective as a classroom by using STEM (PBL) on each of them (Objective 1=C, Objective 2=B, Objective 3=A). In other words, they have to prove everything through mathematics, they have to use engineering design technics, they have to use scientific data collected through surveys within the SIM, and off course, they will be using technology all of the time to reach their objectives within the SIM.
Apollo Program like Moon Transfer and Landing Video
List of essential mods, KSP for STEM Education (2026)
To install mods in KSP I recommend CKAN as the best tool to keep all mods up to date. It also helps installing mods dependencies.
- All Tweak
- Animated Decouplers
- Astrogator
- Aviation Lights
- B9 Part Switch
- Background Resources
- Click Through Blocker
- Community Category Kit
- Community Delta-V Maps
- Community Resource Pack
- Community Tech Tree
- Community Terrain Texture Pack
- Corvus CF
- Cryo Tanks
- Cryo Tanks Core
- Criogenic Engines
- Cryogenic Engines – Liquid Fuel/Oxidizer
- Deployable Engines Plugin
- Docking Port Alignment Indicator
- Docking Port Sound FX
- Dynamic Battery Storage
- Easy Vessel Switch
- Editor Extensions Redux
- Filter Extensions – Default Configuration
- Filter Extensions – Plugin
- Firespitter Core
- Flight Manager for Reusable Stages (FMRS) Continued
- FreeIVA
- Harmony 2
- HUD Replacer
- Kerbal Actuators
- Kerbal Atomics
- Kerbal Atomics – Liquid Fuel Only
- Kerbal Attachment System
- Kerbal Inventory System
- Kerbal Inventory System – No Fun
- Kerbal Joint Reinforcement – Next
- Kerbal Reusability Expansion
- Kopernicus Planetary System Modifier
- KSP Community Fixes
- KSP Recall
- KSP Resonant Orbit Calculator
- KSP2 Pre-Alpha Style NavBall
- MechJeb 2
- Minor Planets Expansion
- Moar Filter Extension Configs
- ModularFlightIntegrator
- Module Manager
- Moldavite Machines
- NavBall Texture Changer Updated
- Near Future Aeronautics
- Near Future Electrical
- Near Future Electrical Core
- Near Future Exploration
- Near Future IVA Props
- Near Future Launch Vehicles
- Near Future Solar
- Near Future Solar Core
- OPM All-in-One KSPedia Delta-V Map
- Outer Planets Mod
- Precise Node
- Procedural Fairings
- Procedural Parts
- RecoveryController
- RemoteTech
- ReStock
- ReStock+
- SCANsat
- Sci Rev
- Shabby
- Show FPS
- Space Tux Library
- Stockalike Mining Extension
- Stockalike Station Parts Expansion Redux
- Stockalike Station Parts Expansion Redux – Internal Spaces
- Surface Mounted Lights
- System Heat
- TAC Fuel Balancer
- TAC Life Support (TACLS)
- Tarsier Space Technology with Galaxies Continued
- The Janitor’s Closet
- Toolbar
- Toolbar Controller
- Trajectories
- TweakScale – Rescale Everything
- TweakScale Companion for ReStockPlus
- TweakScale Redistributable
- Waterfall – Restock
- Waterfall Core
- Zero MiniAVC
- ZTheme
These mods will make KSP work as a space simulator in the classroom.