Why Kerbin is so small compared to Earth

[Program Kerbal Space]

I just wonder why Kerbin is so small. Also don't get me started on Gilly because that must be so small. But Why not the size of Earth or what not? Eh I don't really care on size anyways. But I still wonder.

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

Because the size of a planet affects delta-v requirements for orbit more than its gravity, so a smaller planet makes a easier game.  There are earth sized planet rescale mods that you can try to see for yourself.  

[Program Kerbal Space]

1 minute ago, Mad Rocket Scientist said:

Because the size of a planet affects delta-v requirements for orbit more than its gravity, so a smaller planet makes a easier game.  There are earth sized planet rescale mods that you can try to see for yourself.  

Wait! But the real question is DUN DUN

<DOES IT WORK WITH MECHJEB!>

[DD_bwest]

Ive always thought, and i could be very wrong on this, it has to do with gameplay.   getting into a real earth orbit takes longer, so it requires more patience.

i would imagine if it was scaled up to earth size, the rest would sorta have to match.  which means longer burns again.

[Program Kerbal Space]

Just now, DD_bwest said:

Ive always thought, and i could be very wrong on this, it has to do with gameplay.   getting into a real earth orbit takes longer, so it requires more patience.

i would imagine if it was scaled up to earth size, the rest would sorta have to match.  which means longer burns again.

good point

4 minutes ago, Mad Rocket Scientist said:

Because the size of a planet affects delta-v requirements for orbit more than its gravity, so a smaller planet makes a easier game.  There are earth sized planet rescale mods that you can try to see for yourself.  

Where can i get this mod

[AlphaMensae]

Yep, it was a design decision by KSP's creator, Felipe (HarvesteR, now moved on), to have a 1/10 scale solar system so it would be simpler and easier for rocketry newcomers. The delta-V requirements are so much less, and fuel tanks and engines don't have to have realistic specifications.

Real Solar System turns the stock fictional 1/10 size solar system into the actual full-sized one.

Edited October 31, 2016 by Laguna

[Program Kerbal Space]

4 minutes ago, Laguna said:

(HarvesteR, now moved on)

what do you mean  DO YOU MEAN HE DIED NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[AlphaMensae]

2 minutes ago, Program Kerbal Space said:

what do you mean  DO YOU MEAN HE DIED NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

No, he's still alive, just moved on from KSP to something else, i.e. left Squad. Poor choice of words, I guess. 

 

[Program Kerbal Space]

Just now, Laguna said:

No, he's still alive, just moved on from KSP to something else, i.e. left Squad. Poor choice of words, I guess. 

 

YAY hes safe

[Mad Rocket Scientist]

58 minutes ago, Program Kerbal Space said:

[...]

Where can i get this mod

This is realism overhaul, meant to fully simulate real life rocket science.  All real planets are in this, at full size:

This is real solar system, which turns the kerbol system into the real solar system, but does not change anything else.  AFAIK, pretty hard without realism overhaul too, as stock mass fractions are quite low.

You can adjust said mass fractions with SMURFF to more realistic levels for use with real solar system:

Oh, and there's this:

Real planets at a stock size.

Edited October 31, 2016 by Mad Rocket Scientist

[Red Iron Crown]

Kerbin was made before there timewarp was implemented, its smaller size allows 30 minute orbits compared to the 90 minute ones for an Earth-like planet. Most everything else was scaled from there.