Kerbal Space Program features three gameplay modes. In Science Mode, perform space experiments to unlock new technology and advance the knowledge of Kerbalkind. In Career Mode, oversee every aspect of the space program, including construction, strategy, funding, upgrades, and more. In Sandbox, you are free to build any spacecraft you can think. In Kerbal Space Program, take charge of the space program for the alien race known as the Kerbals. You have access to an array of parts to assemble fully-functional spacecraft that flies (or doesn’t) based on realistic aerodynamic and orbital physics. Launch your Kerbal crew into orbit and beyond (while keeping them alive) to explore moons and planets in the Kerbol solar system, constructing.

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The default contents of the root directory, also showing the Steam library path

For several tasks, like installing addons or flags, it is important to locate the installation of Kerbal Space Program. Depending on the operating system and if Steam is used, KSP is installed into different directories. Usually file locations are given relative to the root directory of Kerbal Space Program.

1Installation directories
- 1.1Steam
- 1.3Galaxy of Games (GOG)
2KSP_Data
3GameData
- 3.1Subdirectories
4Saves

Installation directories

Steam

Opening the file browser from Steam

With Steam installed, it is relatively easy to get to the wanted location. Right clicking^{[Mac users?]} on Kerbal Space Program in the Steam library opens a menu. Selecting properties opens a new window. In the tab local files the button browse local files opens the root directory where Kerbal Space Program is installed in the file browser.

Default locations

Steam allows multiple library folders. The defaults on the operating systems are including the path to KSP:

Windows x86: C:Program FilesSteamSteamAppscommonKerbal Space Program
Windows x64: C:Program Files (x86)SteamSteamAppscommonKerbal Space Program
Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/steamapps/common/Kerbal Space Program
Linux: ~/Steam/, alternatively in ~/.local/share/Steam/SteamApps/common/Kerbal Space Program, or also check ~/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/

The default directories on Mac and Linux computers are in the home directories of the user. Within the library folder, Kerbal Space Program is in the SteamApps/common/Kerbal Space Program directory.

Manual installation

The manual installation is distributed in a zip archive. Depending on the operating system there is either KSP-win, KSP_linux or KSP-osx which contains the root directory of KSP. When this directory is extracted it can be placed anywhere, so this tutorial can't tell where to exactly find it.

Galaxy of Games (GOG)

Default locations

Windows x64: C:Program Files (x86)GOG GalaxyGamesKerbal Space Program
Windows x86: C:Program FilesGOG GalaxyGamesKerbal Space Program
Mac: /Applications/Kerbal Space Program

KSP_Data

Contains core game assets - textures, models, animations, scenes, etc. Use a Unity assets browser to look inside the .assets archive files.

Managed

Contains DLLs for KSP which are linked as a mod library. Assembly-CSharp.dll contains the KSP API. The UnityEngine.dll for pretty much needed by any mod and UnityEngine.UI.dll is needed for mods using a GUI.

GameData

Since version 0.20 the GameData directory was introduced in which most of the addons go. There are exceptions, like addons which were created previously and don't support the new directory format yet or addons which change the behaviour of KSP differently.

Subdirectories

The directory for each mod (and Squad) has several standard subdirectories. Each one is optional.

Agencies. These are the organizations who make parts and supply contracts. Adding agencies here gives adds a brand, spawns contracts from them, and with a little extra work adds a 'by agency' filter in the editors.
Experience
FX
Parts: Contains information for parts.
Resources
Spaces: IVA views for pod parts.
Contracts: Custom contracts
Flags: The flags that can go on vessels, can be planted by Kerbals, and represent agencies.
PartList
Props
Sounds
Strategies: Configs for the Administration Building

Parts

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section

The modules, textures and part configuration files are situated in this subdirectory. Many modders give each part its own directory for all the files it needs. However, different parts can coexist in the same directory.

Saves

In the saves directory all saved sessions are stored. In the directory is a directory for each season named after it. Changing the name won't influence how the entry is named in game. In each session directory are a persistent.sfs and if quicksaves were used quicksave.sfs. The persistent.sfs stores the automatic saves done by the game regularly and prior to exiting the session.

A Hard mode without the ability to save may appear nice in theory, but KSP is still unstable enough (especially with mods) that all progress can be easily lost by a crash and without a backed up persistent.sfs.

Once launched, ship information is stored in the .sfs and does NOT change if the .craft file it came from is updated.

Ships

For each game in the Saves directory, there is a corresponding Ships subdirectory. It contains two directories containing the saved craft for both the VAB and SPH. Craft designs exist independently from saves and changes in the craft files are not represent in the save file without actually launching that changed craft. Otherwise it would mean that any craft already launched would change if the craft in the editor is changed and that would make docking and staging impossible or at least very complicated.

Craft files from another game or downloaded craft files can be moved in the VAB/SPH folder in the destination save. When subassemblies are used, a Subassemblies directory is created for them. Subassemblies can be moved and downloaded in the same way.

Ships

There is also a directory for the stock craft that come with KSP. It is possible to delete or add craft to this directory but removing the directory itself should be avoided as the editors and save menus won't work.

Files in root

These files are in the Kerbal Space Program directory.

PartDatabase.cfg: Contains drag cubes for Parts generated by KSP, so it is safe to delete them when issues arise.
settings.cfg. Contains game options set in the Settings menu. (Is this safe to delete?)
(Where do the parts categories live? Custom categories?)

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3Kerbal statistics

This tutorial requires you to edit the main configuration file for a saved game. It is recommended that you make a backup copy of the file prior to editing in the event your editing prevents the saved game from loading. If you attempt to complete this tutorial while KSP is running, your save file will be severely damaged.

Kerbal Space Program Saved Games