Our Best Estimates in the study of Kerbals

[Radion]

We all know that kerbals are a very elusive species. There is very little in the way of information regarding them, as such, I would like to begin a new project, to amass everything the community knows to bring about common consensus for certain things regarding kerbals.

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First off, we need to know the basic schematics of a kerbal, that is, average height, weight, width, etc. How are we going to find out? We will have a discussion occur in the posts below over the various facts, and various propositions will be made. Afterward, a poll will be posted to find the community consensus. Now, in no way are these going to be official. Squad could make kerbals taller than an elephant if they wanted to, but its nice for the community to agree on these things until a set parameter is given. As such, feel free to make your propositions below, back them, debate them (civilly, of course), and agree on them.

Basic Kerbal Facts - Open For Debate

Avg. Height - 42 Centimeters - .42 Meters

Avg. Weight -

Avg. Width -

Classification -

Binomial Name (from above) -

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Intermediate facts will be opened once the basic facts are agreed upon.

[togfox]

If someone can determine the size of the stock command module then youd have a point of reference.

[Radion]

If someone can determine the size of the stock command module then youd have a point of reference.

I do believe that the stock command module\'s diameter is around 1 meter, as calculated a few months ago.

[thorfinn]

I made some speculations about resource needs and population size in the past, based on the few things we know.

(Read a few posts after that one)

[AlternNocturn]

This might be oversimplifying this quite a bit but why don\'t we find the creature size to CM size ratios for humans and then translate it over to the Kerbals? Should be a lot easier than trying to do it without a real reference.

[Radion]

NASA can give us a few pictures with humans as a frame of reference here -

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/diagrams/apollo.html

I\'m actually quite interested in this one -

[GoodGuy]

my best guesses according to that picture is 1/2 meter.

[trbinsc]

I found this:

Scale of Human and Kerbal crew and spacecraft

[Radion]

I\'ve done some calculations based on that image and referencing it with the Apollo Image, and I think the average height of a Kerbal is

50 Centimeters

That\'s based on an average human height of 1.8 meters, divided by 0.33 (I stacked the Kerbals until I reached the top of the astronauts, it came up to 3 1/2.), resulting in 5.5454545454545454545 and so on and so forth. Doing some rounding to 5.5, then removing .5 to account for that extra 1/2 that I didn\'t include in the calculations, it came up to 5.0, or 50 centimeters, after moving the decimal.

[ping111]

I\'ve done some calculations based on that image and referencing it with the Apollo Image, and I think the average height of a Kerbal is

50 Centimeters

That\'s based on an average human height of 1.8 meters, divided by 0.33 (I stacked the Kerbals until I reached the top of the astronauts, it came up to 3 1/2.), resulting in 5.5454545454545454545 and so on and so forth. Doing some rounding to 5.5, then removing .5 to account for that extra 1/2 that I didn\'t include in the calculations, it came up to 5.0, or 50 centimeters, after moving the decimal.

Sweet. Just a note though, when you have numbers go on like that, you say '5.54 repeating'. This shows that the decimal is repeating over and over. Also, I think that\'s a touch too tall for Kerbals. Perhaps their sense of height is different from ours? This could lead to infinite uncertainties - I just wanted to put that out there.

[Radion]

Sweet. Just a note though, when you have numbers go on like that, you say '5.54 repeating'. This shows that the decimal is repeating over and over. Also, I think that\'s a touch too tall for Kerbals. Perhaps their sense of height is different from ours? This could lead to infinite uncertainties - I just wanted to put that out there.

1. I am well aware of the use of repeating, but I added the extra decimals for a bit of emphasis, if you please.

2. If we factor in C7\'s cockpit models, I think they might be a tad bit smaller, I\'d have to look into it.

[Temstar]

Average human height is not 180cm, it\'s more like 165-170cm. Neil Armstrong was 180cm and was considered tall among the Apollo astronauts, enough so that Pete Conrad\'s first words on the moon was 'Whoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that\'s a long one for me.'

[ping111]

Also, what is a binomial name? The italicized latin stuff, like llama llama for llamas? And may I make a suggestion? No matter how disgusting it may seem, I would like to see a section on reproduction and how they always return for another mission.

For death, I say that when they die, their core seed (I believe they are grass-based) is planted in the soil, and quickly grows into a new Kerbal, which finds its way home. It has the personality and memories of its predecessor, too.

And *sigh* reproduction. Again with the grass, I believe they have some sort of Avatar-style thing, or perhaps the female produces a 'milk' similar to the stuff inside dandelions that the male introduces to his core seed somehow. Then, a new seed is created with the child inside it, and is planted. I\'m sorry, I\'m sick and twisted. =P

[Radion]

Average human height is not 180cm, it\'s more like 165-170cm. Neil Armstrong was 180cm and was considered tall among the Apollo astronauts, enough so that Pete Conrad\'s first words on the moon was 'Whoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that\'s a long one for me.'

I\'ve done my research, and I\'ve found the average height of male Americans is 177-9 centimeters. In the Netherlands, the average is around 180-4, Australia has around 175-180, Finland - 178-180, Germany - 177-9, UK - 175-7. I\'d say the average is around 178, so, close enough.

[Monkthespy]

PING!!!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THIS IS NOT KSP AAAAAAAAA- THIS IS LIKE TIMLOAD ALL OVER AGAIN-AAAA.

In all seriousness, what the hell? I mean I could MAKE a reproduction system but I don\'t get all caught in that sti- stuff.

[ping111]

PING!!!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING? THIS IS NOT KSP AAAAAAAAA- THIS IS LIKE TIMLOAD ALL OVER AGAIN-AAAA.

In all seriousness, what the hell? I mean I could MAKE a reproduction system but I don\'t get all caught in that sti- stuff.

It\'s the meaning of life from a biologic standpoint - procreate and adapt to create the master species. Also, it\'s like incessant giggling in sex ed - it\'s stuff in your body, who cares?

[Monkthespy]

It\'s the meaning of life from a biologic standpoint - procreate and adapt to create the master species. Also, it\'s like incessant giggling in sex ed - it\'s stuff in your body, who cares?

Nonono. It\'s not that, I understand, I just have a horrible mind. It\'s just that KERBALS as well, we don\'t really need to...explain anymore than plants, if they even work like plants :U

[Radion]

Alright, lets not speak of this further before someone locks this thread out of sheer disgust. Can we get back to the non-reproductive sciences here?

[ping111]

Alright, lets not speak of this further before someone locks this thread out of sheer disgust. Can we get back to the non-reproductive sciences here?

Alright, alright. But mark my words, I will write and quasi-publish a lab report on the Kerbal Species. It will have the reproductive sciences in them.

[Temstar]

I\'ve done my research, and I\'ve found the average height of male Americans is 177-9 centimeters. In the Netherlands, the average is around 180-4, Australia has around 175-180, Finland - 178-180, Germany - 177-9, UK - 175-7. I\'d say the average is around 178, so, close enough.

But both NASA and KSP have female astronauts...

Fun fact: All the Vostok astronauts were pretty short, Yuri Gagarin was only 157cm. When you think about it there\'s every reason to pick short astronauts, they can move around in their phone booth of a spacecraft easier and they weigh less. Scale that up with their spacesuits as well and that difference becomes non-negligible.

[Monkthespy]

Alright, alright. But mark my words, I will write and quasi-publish a lab report on the Kerbal Species. It will have the reproductive sciences in them.

._.

MY MIND, AND THE GUTTER.

Anyways, that seems about right Radion, you could probably take the insides of the command module for Apollo in consideration, as you could use it to 'convert' to the Kerbals command module, and then make some more height adjustments there, know what I mean?

[Radion]

But both NASA and KSP have female astronauts...

Fun fact: All the Vostok astronauts were pretty short, Yuri Gagarin was only 157cm. When you think about it there\'s every reason to pick short astronauts, they can move around in their phone booth of a spacecraft easier and they weigh less. Scale that up with their spacesuits as well and that difference becomes non-negligible.

True, however the Apollo program used all-male astronauts, and the Apollo capsule is what we\'re basing the data off of. However, we can factor in female heights for a final account of average human height. 178 cm for a male, and I\'ll get to finding the female average.

Alright, alright. But mark my words, I will write and quasi-publish a lab report on the Kerbal Species. It will have the reproductive sciences in them.

Okaaay....

[Anachronda]

For death, I say that when they die, their core seed (I believe they are grass-based) is planted in the soil, and quickly grows into a new Kerbal, which finds its way home. It has the personality and memories of its predecessor, too.

And *sigh* reproduction. Again with the grass, I believe they have some sort of Avatar-style thing, or perhaps the female produces a 'milk' similar to the stuff inside dandelions that the male introduces to his core seed somehow. Then, a new seed is created with the child inside it, and is planted. I\'m sorry, I\'m sick and twisted. =P

Well, since I\'m on record as supposing Kermen are some sort of plant with the names (Jebediah, etc) being the variety rather than an individual name, I suppose reproduction happens something like this:

[Temstar]

I did some research, current NASA requirement for astronaut height is between 62 and 75 inches, or 157.5 cm to 190.5cm. Pete Conrad is 169cm, so I guess despite what he says he\'s not that short after all.

[ping111]

Okay, sorry for being creepy last night.

So I have a couple normal questions:

What is a binomial name?

Are we defining their weight with the helmets on or off?