Nurolight

Imagining career mode beginning with a JFK-style Kerbal speech, and the program beginning in that era, you are given a certain budget to start with. Every 'successful mission' will give you an extended/bonus budget (determined by bringing Kerbals back from space alive, in addition to doing new things at new levels (Level 1: Something in orbit, L2: Kerbal in orbit and back, L3: Lunar mission (and return) ect...). Unsuccessful missions will cut your budget for the next (year?). Meaning the only way to fail would meaning have countless unsuccessful missions and causing your budget to be cut back to 0.

Rather than the jack-of-all-trait Kerbals we have at the moment, I was considering the idea of having different job roles for individual Kerbals. As oppose to hiring from the large list of potential astronauts, you hire from different divisions. Pilot/Navigator Pilots are a necessity to flying planes, and are the only ones able to do so (the mechanics would work just the same, a pilot is simply required to be in the command pod to control it). Engineers/Mechanics These astronauts are necessary for repairing broken components. Scientists Scientists will provide a more detailed and rewarding EVA report, resulting in a larger amount of science points to be gained. In comparison, other Kerbals will provide a less conclusive report with minimal science points. Medical Medics would have to be introduced along with a new mechanic of health. When your Kerbals go for a roll down the surface of Duna, but don't crash into a pile a dust, they won't be feeling too great. Kerbals sub-menu's will display their health reports. These doctors and nurses have the ability to patch up our injured adventurers and let them get back on their way! Each job role would allow for individual EVA reports, specific to their roles, eg: A scientists view orbiting Kerbin would be considering the effects of the goo, whilst a doctor may ponder what it would be like to remove his suit? That is not to say a Kerbal cannot have training in multiple regions. When a $$$ system is added, you could spend time and money training up a Scientistto become a Pilot, of course this means it taking away from your vehicle/mission budget. If you return him home safety, besides being a national hero, he can continue with his career and save you that extra bit of Kerbin currency on your next mission. In additional to all of this, you can assign a Commander to each mission, who oversees the entire operation. This has no purpose, just for a bit of role-playing fun.