This is from sal_vager's FAQ for this forum section: I've actually had EVA kerbals re-enter a pod they exited only to find a copy of that kerbal hanging on the ladder. I can spin them off, which is a waste of fuel. But it didn't seem to happen if I saved / reloaded before attempting EVA. The engine shroud came into play because I'd often have fuel to spare in a transfer stage, and I'd use that to start a descent burn. I'd then decouple that stage almost right before landing, and the subse