Is Jeb a satire on real life astronauts?

[BrickedKeyboard]

I was thinking how the incredible fame the early astronauts enjoyed was not entirely deserved. After all, they didn't design the rocket or the mission or do all the math needed to make it possible. (for the most part). Apollo era astronauts were mostly there to float in the can and flip switches on demand from mission control, just like Kerbals.

However, there is something to be said for the bravery the early astronauts showed when they boarded those multi-story colossi crammed to the gills with fuel and liquid oxygen. It does take serious guts to ride a barely tested rocket.

And I wondered, so if I were looking for humans to stuff in my shiny new rocket, what characteristics would I look for? I'd want to find someone who was educated and skilled and willing to strap themselves into a crazy untested contraption and have a good attitude no matter what went down...

[r4pt0r]

I was thinking how the incredible fame the early astronauts enjoyed was not entirely deserved.

>implying?

fame [feɪm]

n

1. the state of being widely known or recognized; renown; celebrity

Tom the rocket builder didnt build the rocket. the Nasa team built the rocket. Nasa is famous.

Jared at mission control didnt pilot the ship. John Glenn piloted the ship. John Glenn is famous

[Sof]

>implying?

fame [feɪm]

n

1. the state of being widely known or recognized; renown; celebrity

Tom the rocket builder didnt build the rocket. the Nasa team built the rocket. Nasa is famous.

Jared at mission control didnt pilot the ship. John Glenn piloted the ship. John Glenn is famous

Who is John Glenn?

[lajoswinkler]

I'd say yes. The first astronauts were pretty much highly trained lab animals and kind of daredevils. I don't think they were laughing like Jebediah, though.

[Trux]

Who is John Glenn?

First American to orbit the Earth and oldest person to travel in space.

[tom1499]

I suppose the whole 'Flags and Footprints' thing goes with this. The name of the game is space travel, the game is politics and PR. Sad really that we can only achieve great things when we make them a PR Stunt. Not to put down the first Astronauts, who were brave and intelligent men, but they kinda were just faces for the press and tools for scientists and engineers. Even the astronauts themselves coined the term 'Chimp Mode' for when Mercury was on automatic mode, and they were just there to admire the view.

[Scotius]

Until sometimes goes wrong (Murphy's Laws assure us it WILL). Like total power failure. Then you have to pilot your own capsule using only your watch, eyeballs and some marks you've made on capsule's tiny window as navigation tools. And deal with carbon dioxide level rising dangerously (because no power). Gordon Cooper managed to bring his failing Mercury capsule safely down while fighting against such odds. That takes some serious guts and skill - dumb luck goes only so far.

[FITorion]

In the 3 person pod... The center seat is Jeb. IVA as Jeb. There are no windows for him to look out of. The other two had windows.

Somehow the code for when Kerbals had any particular facial expression always had Jeb smiling like a mad man. This became popular among the community and they have since added code to ensure Jeb continues smiling in almost all circumstance.

[AmpsterMan]

I think Jeb is projection of the player in game. Think about it. His stats are in the middle on both ends, just like we are on average neither too smart nor too dumb. He only ever screams when he is in mortal danger, just as we as players are always having fun no matter what.

[Depth]

I imagine there existed at least one Soviet cosmonaut with the same mind-set as Jeb

[Teodzero]

I'd say yes. The first astronauts were pretty much highly trained lab animals and kind of daredevils. I don't think they were laughing like Jebediah, though.

I heard that Yuri Gagarin loved to say that he wasn't sure if he was first man in space, or the last dog.

And his "Let's roll!" at the start is clearly something Jeb would say.

[Stranded]

I don't know about you guys but playing this game gives me a completely new awe and appreciation for all of the people involved in the space program. When you realize what these people accomplished with the tools they had available, it's humbling to say the least. They didn't even have calculators in the beginning. Watch the videos, when something goes wrong everyone reaches for their sliderule. Realizing that in some cases you have one single shot at making a burn, and a very limited amount of fuel to do it with, in the game it's one thing, but when a person's life is involved I am sure there was some immense pressure involved. It's truly amazing to think about.

I also think that all of these astronauts playing down their involvement are just being humble.

Edited November 10, 2013 by Stranded

[Awaras]

I heard that Yuri Gagarin loved to say that he wasn't sure if he was first man in space, or the last dog.

And his "Let's roll!" at the start is clearly something Jeb would say.

Actually, "We're off!" or "here we go!" would be a more accurate translation.

[Brotoro]

I would not say the Apollo-era astronauts were just along for the ride. The docking maneuvers done by Gemini and Apollo required piloting by the astronauts -- these were not automated systems.

Mercury-era astronauts were much closer to being merely passengers, but there were cases where they were able to save a mission when automatic systems failed.

[Giggleplex777]

This is the real life Jeb:

^ Don't try this at home!

Edited November 10, 2013 by Giggleplex777

[BrickedKeyboard]

I would not say the Apollo-era astronauts were just along for the ride. The docking maneuvers done by Gemini and Apollo required piloting by the astronauts -- these were not automated systems.

Mercury-era astronauts were much closer to being merely passengers, but there were cases where they were able to save a mission when automatic systems failed.

Conversely, they would not have needed to dock at all for a Moon mission that was just a probe. The Soviets sent several probes that were able to land, 3 were able to return samples. Wiki says it was 0.326 Kg of moon rocks, versus a few hundred pounds with the Apollo missions. However, presumably, the Soviets did this much cheaper.

Similarly, with the manned missions that were saved by crew, had the crew not been there, the mission would have failed...but we could have launched several more unmanned missions for the same cost, and probably at least one of those missions would have succeeded.

[BrickedKeyboard]

This is the real life Jeb:

^ Don't try this at home!

My god. And he's not wearing a helmet. (yes, at a mere 45mph, a helmet would probably help). And, he's on an uneven road on a somewhat janky looking bike.

The actual speed is not as big of a deal, I think a good cyclist can hit 45 mph under good conditions?

[Giggleplex777]

My god. And he's not wearing a helmet. (yes, at a mere 45mph, a helmet would probably help). And, he's on an uneven road on a somewhat janky looking bike.

The actual speed is not as big of a deal, I think a good cyclist can hit 45 mph under good conditions?

I think having a jet engine and a propane tank behind your seat is pretty dangerous. Jebediah approved!

[Leatherneck]

I think having a jet engine and a propane tank behind your seat is pretty dangerous. Jebediah approved!

Lol.

You wanna know why Bill and Bob freak out every launch? It is because Jeb is saying "You know we're sitting on four million pounds of fuel, and a thing that has 270,000 moving parts built by the lowest bidder. Makes you feel good, doesn't it?"

(The quote is from Armageddon.)

[Goldham]

This is the real life Jeb:

^ Don't try this at home!

Someone make this is KSP!

[BrickedKeyboard]

2 rover wheels connected by an i-beam with a seat on top and 2 jet engines on the back would be as close as we can do with stock parts, right?

[Depth]

2 rover wheels connected by an i-beam with a seat on top and 2 jet engines on the back would be as close as we can do with stock parts, right?

Me and Jeb had a great time testing out our Jet Buggy

[Specialist290]

I think that the OP is correct: The personality for Jebediah Kerman seems to be based on the "ideal test pilot" who always keeps his cool and keeps the reports coming no matter what happens, with the occasional wisecrack to try to keep others from worrying too much about things themselves.

That said, I think that "satire" is probably the wrong choice of word here; "pastiche" or "parody" probably fit a little better.

Warning: TV Tropes. May ruin your life.

Edited November 11, 2013 by Specialist290

[Kosmic Debris]

Early astronauts were very best military aviators and test pilots - all extraordinary people. Many were engineers. They might not have done all the engineering, but they knew the spacecraft wire-by-wire, nut-by-nut and had major influence on their design and construction. Doesn't mean they weren't Hell-raisers with brass ones as well - but they absolutely weren't "spam in a can".

[doggie015]

Until sometimes goes wrong (Murphy's Laws assure us it WILL). Like total power failure. Then you have to pilot your own capsule using only your watch, eyeballs and some marks you've made on capsule's tiny window as navigation tools. And deal with carbon dioxide level rising dangerously (because no power). Gordon Cooper managed to bring his failing Mercury capsule safely down while fighting against such odds. That takes some serious guts and skill - dumb luck goes only so far.

That already happened - Apollo 13. Starting out with an early inboard cutoff on the second stage and then the explosion and venting and the power conservation to get home alive in the LEM which was only designed for 2 men for 2 days - not 3 men for 4 days