Fluffy Kitten Studios announces that Ascent is now available as an early access release on Steam, offering a space-based PvE MMORPG with a heavy emphasis on science and exploration. This trailer shows off the game, and the Ascent website offers a web-based demo to sample. Here's word on the game and its enormous scope:

Ascent is a Player Versus Environment space MMO with 270,000,000,000 star systems and an emphasis on strong Sci Fi, exploration, colonization, starbase construction, research and technology, mining and farming, trading, and of course combat.

Outside of a pre-defined "Apollo Sector" area with nine star systems, everything in the game is made by players - Colonies, starbases, stock markets (for trading), the government (colony Mayors, planetary Governors, star system Senators and a Colonial President are all elected by players) and even jump gates between systems.