Things you can do in KSP that no real space program would be stupid enough to try . .

[Johno]

The rules: Everyone contributes ONE example at a time. You can contribute more than one, of course, but not consecutively. Let others have a go.

I'll start.

"Things were going so well with the second test of the new Soyuz analogue that we thought "Ah, heck with it", and docked it with the Space Station."

[Rage097]

We strandset up a permanent base on Eve when we don't show up prepared.

[tk5800thesecond]

"The abort system for the shuttle was too expensive and heavy so we took it out"

Oh wait...

[LameLefty]

"We've never tested this rocket before, we don't know if it will stage properly, or if it will fall apart structurally upon launch. We've run no analysis regarding power consumption or the appropriate amount of RCS fuel to load."

"And, your point is .... ?"

"Let's send it to the Mün!"

[Johno]

Bob: Jeb, do you think it'll lift off or explode?

Jeb: Only one way to find out!

[Kerbart]

"I'm not sure if we'll make it into orbit, so let's just slap on another six of our largest tanks and heaviest engines, just to be on the safe side"

[Rage097]

"Hey, we need a better mode of Munar trnasportation"

"Alright, we'll duct-tape a rover on top of the previous rocket."

[MrPopcup]

"This SSTO can go to the Mün but we Didn't test it so it can't."

[magnemoe]

We are proud to announce or first Mun base as an mission extension of our first Mun landing.

Let landing legs, engine and fuel tank worked well as crumble zone.

As for my own projects, deorbiting an 1200 ton ship with 30 nerva engines over the spaceport.

it did not impact as I had to activate the escape system while it still was pointing the right direction (parachutes dragging the pod out of an hole of six orange tanks around a core)

Doing Eva during aerobraking at Eve decent, I forgot to move kerbal from pod who should be dropped during after deorbit burn over to seat.

[Boosterspice]

"Think it'll make it to the Mün?"

"Dunno. Heck, let's add a bunch of boosters to be sure!"

[Fiddlestyx]

This. We call this the "Sit and Spin". It flys wonderfully if all you want to do is go straight up and come back down.

[lammatt]

build an amusement park on Mun. ( using DamnedRobotics' bearing and some tiny side-mounted rockets to make a ferris wheel)

[lammatt]

spending 3 times the fuel required to force an earlier arrival to Moho. (well... why not? and that just-because-i-can mentality)

[Guest]

"Where's the delta-V analysis on this new design?"

"Um, well, we didn't do one."

"Why not?!"

"We got bored and sent out for pizza. Want some?"

[long pause] "Extra pepperoni?"

"Triple."

"Launch approved. Let's eat."

[Robje]

''This manned test rocket exceeds all of my expectations! Let's see wether it can reach the sun. BOOM....yes it can...Gbye Jeb ''

[ReptilianGameplays]

Jeb: Oh heck the motor died.

Bill: What now?

Jeb: Someone is going to get outside and push the rocket.

Bill: WHAT? Agh fine.

*push and the motor gets back to life!*

Jeb: YAY! The booster is working! C'mon Bi- Oh...

[RocketYeah]

"We have successfully landed 3 Kerbals on the Mun.... who said anything about getting them back?"

[geb]

This. We call this the "Sit and Spin". It flys wonderfully if all you want to do is go straight up and come back down.

People actually have tried this one in reality: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_Rocket#Helicopter_to_orbit

[Tw1]

Shuttle re-entering.....

"You know what? If we fire up the main engines again, we could totally do a loop before landing."

Speaking of which, there is now a challenge to do this.

Edited September 16, 2013 by Tw1

[TheSaint]

My first visit to every world in the solar system wasn't an unmanned probe, it was a manned landing mission. Go, Jeb, go!

My Eeloo return mission ended with a 13,000 m/s aerobrake at Kerbin. The G-meter pegged at 15+. I still get a chuckle out of that one. I wish I'd been recording it for posterity.

[Zeroignite]

My navigation/mission planning department is more than occasionally guilty of eyeballing sum delta-v requirements rather than pulling out an adding machine.

To be fair, in this save I'm not putting a Kerbal down on Eve until I'm reasonably certain I can get them back.

[SkyRender]

Pretty much any manned mission to any location beyond Minmus. Thank goodness there's no logistical concerns for life support! Or crew health!

[musicpenguin]

Lets send a pilot to the mars on our first mission ever! -Said no (non-ksp) space program ever.

[Rage097]

Use The vaccum of space as your personal particle accellerator, with a manned ship.

[SteevyT]

Using nothing but control surfaces for propulsion.