Could MechJeb Fly a Real Rocket?

[archenemy_6]

The LVDC (Saturn Launch Vehicle Digital computer) was capable of executing 12190 instructions per second. For comparison, a 2012-era microprocessor can execute 4 instructions per cycle at 3 GHz, achieving 12 billion instructions per second, one million times faster.

That was enough to put the Saturn V into orbit.

And that is a processor 4 years old. Granted mechjeb isn't using near that much computing power you can see how little they used to get rockets into orbit. If it worked for them it could work for us now. It might not be the most accurate system but I definitely think mechjeb could get a real rocket into orbit.

[Gaarst]

It's not that much a question of processing power, but more of complexity. KSP is a gross approximation of real life; no matter how good a KSP autopilot is, it will still completely ignore a great part of the stuff you have to consider when flying an actual rocket, simply because KSP doesn't model/simulate this stuff.

And KSP's SAS would instantly destroy any actual rocket also, you need accuracy and that kind of stuff to fly a rocket. KSP is much more tolerant than real life about errors (real rockets don't flip when going off course, they explode).