What's Jebediah Kerman's role in the space program?

[Temstar]

I get the feeling Jeb is like a Deke Slayton of Kerbal space program - Head of the kerbonaut office and thus the boss of all the other kerbonauts and the person who picks who will fly which misson. Which would put him in a position to pick himself for dangerous/high profile missions.

But the parts description also says he runs a rocket parts company that specialises in selling rocket engines built from bits found lying on the side of the road. Funnily enough the Mercury Seven astronauts where each assigned a specialty area of the space program they were ment to keep track of and represent the astronauts office for, and sure enough Deke happens to be responsible for booster development.

I wonder how Jeb finds the time to handle these two jobs at once. Is there anything else we know about the man and what his involvements are in the space program?

[nhnifong]

Kerbal space agency is rife with nepotism

[NovaSilisko]

My theory is that "Jebediah Kerman" is actually a title adopted by many fearless Kerbals over the course of history, to carry on the legacy of the original.

[4 IN 1]

The space program build around Jeb, he is the center of KSP, he is rich enough to that he actually have a eve-online style cloning facilities where kerbalnauts all have reserves bodies. Rumors have it that Jeb is actually running for presidency, even through he is actually the king of kerbal kinds.

Edited October 11, 2012 by 4 IN 1

[The Joker]

My theory is that "Jebediah Kerman" is actually a title adopted by many fearless Kerbals over the course of history, to carry on the legacy of the original.

Well technically wouldn't the title just be "Jebediah"?

"Kerman" is equivalent to "Human", right?

(Also nice new avatar.)

[Moeceefus]

Its great how he has become the face of the game.

[Astronomer]

Its great how he has become the face of the game.

You must be new here...

Anyway - I was wondering if Bob and Bill are also like Jeb (clones) :S

[Khiro]

My theory is that "Jebediah Kerman" is actually a title adopted by many fearless Kerbals over the course of history, to carry on the legacy of the original.

It's the Dread Space Pirate Roberts!

[Thunderbird]

personally i think Jeb is the spirit of the KSP, he is the crazy maniac they invited in for a suicide mission, but that succeeded because of his insane skill and energy, and ever since then, he is dragging the KSP behind him on a rope of his own endless energy, personality and psychosis

[Neomatt]

personally i think Jeb is the spirit of the KSP, he is the crazy maniac they invited in for a suicide mission, but that succeeded because of his insane skill and energy, and ever since then, he is dragging the KSP behind him on a rope of his own endless energy, personality and psychosis

Pretty much this for me as well.

He's the idealist, the "let's just go already!" force in the KSC, when Wernher, Gene and the boys in the cockpit are using caution.

He understands that true rocket science demands sacrifice, and will take his share of the burden eagerly.

[Wayfare]

Jebediah is the Space Program.

[Timmon26]

I always imagined Jeb as being a bit like Sam Starfall.

He founded KSP but doesn't run it.

He's an enthusiastic con artist entrepreneur who excels at dazzling investors and convincing them to pour stupendous amounts of cash into his "space program" for "the benefit of Kerbal Kind".

Really, he just likes the pretty rockets, the explosions they make, and being a famous astronaut.

Bill and the rest of the crew are being dragged along in his wake, desperately trying to legitimize the program and do something constructive. Their occasional successes add to Jeb's credibility and feed the cycle, providing an endless supply of money and expendable recruits, presumably until the global economy collapses.

[Sherlock21st]

Jeb has a strange thing going on where for as long as hes smiling, the crew has a chance of survival.

If not, then someone strapped on one too many NERVAs.

[Cooly568]

I think Jeb is just the head reason that the Program is the Program.

He started it and was the inspiration for the whole thing.

With his 2 loved brothers he racked up many flights as commander.

Thats what I think.

[Kulzar]

Jebediah is so far the first Kerbal on Mun and Minmus, and the only Kerbal to have visited Mun twice so far. He's the spearhead of my space programe! You know everything is fine as long as he's smiling. His courage and dedication are an inspiration to kerbal kind!

Jebediah Kerman, we salute you!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]34647[/ATTACH]

[AmpsterMan]

(Out of Universe) I think Jebediah is a representation of the player. He has no emotion before liftoff. During it, he has a smile kind of like we do when we see our hunk of metal flying. Before it blows up, he is still smiling. When in Orbit looking at the pretty stars. Smiling. When about to land on Mun. Smiling. The only time he ever frowns is when something goes SERIOSLY wrong, which is consequently when the player frowns. That coupled with the fact that it is just HILARIOUS that he is always laughing is what makes him what he is.

(In Universe) I think he was the first major supplier to the Kerbal Space Program and so has dibbs on being the pilot.

[Werwolf]

I don't worry as long as Jeb is smiling. When he begins frowning, in my mind the mission is already doomed... I'm just waiting to see which part is going to fly off and explode. He's like a harbinger...

[zzguy]

Whenever I launch, and I see Jeb on bored, I immediately know it's going to be a good flight.

[TheHengeProphet]

I was wondering if Bob and Bill are also like Jeb (clones) :S

I have come up with the theory that All Kermen are budding plants, and the kermen that we see are the buds. Jeb, Bill, and Bob, are the three governing personalities of the first parental plant, which has since spawned other parental plants.

[Steve Fink]

@Ampsterman

"Before it blows up, he is still smiling. When in Orbit looking at the pretty stars. Smiling. When about to land on Mun. Smiling. "

Jeb's just always high on the Kerbal Kronic. His two sidekicks know this and they are freaking out cause Jeb's "in control". Just look at the splash screen; its all there man!

[AeroPelican]

Jebediah is the Space Program.

Then let's call it JSP, shall we?

[bamarocks777]

he's just the best pilot. nothing else. he is the main commander and not what you said. he is more of an alan shepard

[Trekkin]

He's the guy who looks at a giant pile of hydrazine, liquid hydrogen, and assorted nitrates packed into a ramshackle arrangement of canisters with engines glued to the end, notices the total lack of reliable sensors and the almost schizophrenically anachronistic mix of capabilities possessed by the program (nuclear engines yes, rangefinder no), contemplates the prospect of spending years in the tiny capsule glued to the top without even a whisper of life support while hurtling to almost certain death in pursuit of an arbitrary goal...

and smiles.

And when you see someone like that, you don't dare tell them they can't fly.

And that's why he's Jeb.