Today in xkcd: Orbital Mechanics

[Tataffe]

Picture is link.

[CalculusWarrior]

I actually discovered KSP through xkcd, a long time ago.

[Aphobius]

This picture makes me angry.

Because I know some people here might actually believe that Kerbal Space Program can improve the knowledge about orbital mechanics of a person that got a job that requires a physics degree at NASA. (assuming that NASA is not going to hire someone with a physics degree as the janitor)

I know the picture is a joke, but I'm sure a lot of people from here are going to believe that it's not.

[Uncle Mort]

Well, there is a disclaimer in the mouse-over.

[SkyRender]

In practical terms, it's true enough: you learn more from doing, and repeated runs of a simulation can teach far more than any textbook or lecture can. That doesn't mean you're any sort of expert, of course; it's a lot like the difference between knowing how to drive a car and knowing how the individual components of your car work to allow you to drive the car. The former is far easier than the latter, and the latter technically does not require the former.

[Kanukki]

Yep, the mouse-over clearly indicates that this is based on Randall's own experience, hence the "I understand" not "one understands".

[FenrirWolf]

This picture makes me angry.

Because I know some people here might actually believe that Kerbal Space Program can improve the knowledge about orbital mechanics of a person that got a job that requires a physics degree at NASA. (assuming that NASA is not going to hire someone with a physics degree as the janitor)

I know the picture is a joke, but I'm sure a lot of people from here are going to believe that it's not.

Umm, I don't think you "get" xkcd

[Bedwyr]

Yes, there are a few points to make. 1: I believe Randall worked at Langley which focuses on aeronautics. 2: Langley's work is important and should be supported just as space exploration should be supported. 3: lots of people work at NASA are subject matter experts and aren't all rocket scientists or deal with orbital guidance. Some are biologists too! 4: The point of the cartoon is hardly 'ha! I learned more from Kerbal than...' The point is more 'isn't it great to have a tool that helps us more intuitively understand... even if I've done this stuff you'd assume makes me an automatic expert on...'

There's a lot of stuff out there to know. Heck. You could be a mechanical engineer working on a rocket program and not know the first thing about orbital flight. But by gum you know your metal alloy stresses in huge <edit>turboPUMP</edit> tossing massive quantities of fuel through at very high speeds.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Bedwyr
term correction, sorry.

[NecroBones]

While not precisely 'accurate', the comic does make an excellent point about converting book-knowledge into practical, functioning knowledge.

And yes, the game uses simplified, 1-body perfect-Kepler orbits, but even that can be a great teaching tool.

But in any case, it's a comic strip. I think trying to disassemble that is pretty pointless. Enjoy it for what it is!

[NecroBones]

Of course there's also the classic Up-Goer Five, which seems quite relevant to KSP as well... heh.

[joppiesaus]

Well, I understand everything in "practice", but not in theory

I've tried using the internet... But that's more confusing than reading my T-Shirt with the formulla of light as a joke.

If you have a orbital mechanics degree, KSP is handy to understand everything how it works *in real life*, but that doesn't make you a master.