So let me get this straight....

[KerbMav]

There is, of course, a pretty simple and fairly canon explanation for why Career mode starts out with the parts it does: Jeb basically jerryrigged the space program from the ground up and ignored all other advances made by the rest of the Kerbal race. It's not so much that Kerbals don't have things like jet planes, wheels, or even wings yet. It's more that, in his haste to get to space, Jeb decided it would be best to ignore those frivolities and just focus on perfecting what was necessary to get up into space. And as a result, other companies along the way "discover" technologies that the rest of the Kerbal race already knew about and sell them to the space program in exchange for scientific research data (and later, for money as well).

Yes, something along these lines.

And if you need a realistic explanation, do not forget that space is a totally different playground. The differences in temperature (ranges) and pressure, not to forget the lack of gravity and the radiation, all pose a challenge to adept technology that works fine on the surface of a planet to also work up there - and a whole lot more reliably too!

[ArmchairGravy]

Odd, the onboard SAS only drains batteries if I manuver, and even then not by much. I do Mun and Minmus flybys without batteries and still have plenty of juice left when I get home. Did you do a transmission?

[BubbaWilkins]

Point of fact.

The first documented use of early rocketry occurred in 982 AD. The Mongols used small rockets in battle in the 1200's. The Wright brothers flew in 1903.

It's not necessarily unrealistic to see rocket development occur prior to flight, it just so happens that when the US got serious about it both were already well on their way.

[Jouni]

Let's be honest here for a moment: The second you get solar panels the KSP career becomes rather dull. Flying to the Mun and Minmus with a limited supply of el. charge is at least a bit of a challenge.

I think it's the other way around. Career mode is boring after the first time, until you get access to the basic utility and structural parts. It's reasonable that you have to work to get bigger rockets, more powerful and more efficient engines, lightweight parts, better aerodynamics, bigger batteries and solar panels, nuclear power etc. On the other hand, if you don't have even the most basic components, the game feels more like a puzzle than a space program.

[Jouni]

The first documented use of early rocketry occurred in 982 AD. The Mongols used small rockets in battle in the 1200's. The Wright brothers flew in 1903.

It's not necessarily unrealistic to see rocket development occur prior to flight, it just so happens that when the US got serious about it both were already well on their way.

Aerodynamic flight is much older invention. People had been using kites for various tasks for at least 1000 years before the first documented use of rocketry.

[Sirrobert]

There is, of course, a pretty simple and fairly canon explanation for why Career mode starts out with the parts it does: Jeb basically jerryrigged the space program from the ground up and ignored all other advances made by the rest of the Kerbal race. It's not so much that Kerbals don't have things like jet planes, wheels, or even wings yet. It's more that, in his haste to get to space, Jeb decided it would be best to ignore those frivolities and just focus on perfecting what was necessary to get up into space. And as a result, other companies along the way "discover" technologies that the rest of the Kerbal race already knew about and sell them to the space program in exchange for scientific research data (and later, for money as well).

That explains everything.

Why we start with but an engine, why we use parts found at the side of the road.

Hell, some parts are from "Jebediah Kerman's scrapyard."

He's just a guy owning a scrapyard that loves explosions. So he took some parts out of his backyard, and boom, KSP