On the Origin of Kerbals

[DuoDex]

So recently I was on the reddit KSP subreddit, and the title was "Launching green frogs into space...". What with the recent Maxmaps AMA, I thought that something about the origin of Kerbals was released.

Can anyone clarify this?

[Renegrade]

So recently I was on the reddit KSP subreddit, and the title was "Launching green frogs into space...". What with the recent Maxmaps AMA, I thought that something about the origin of Kerbals was released.

Well, they did mention that HarvesteR used to attach little tinfoil men to fireworks and call them "Kerbals" ... could that be what you mean?

[Goldham]

Well EnterElysium did a spore playthrough with kerbals

[DuoDex]

Well, they did mention that HarvesteR used to attach little tinfoil men to fireworks and call them "Kerbals" ... could that be what you mean?

Yeah.

[Tex]

Some theorize that the Kerbal species itself (and ingame, not counting real-world origins) is a mutated plant that gained bipedal abilities. Their ability to photosynthesize would account for them apparently not needing food on years-long voyages!

[severedsolo]

Some theorize that the Kerbal species itself (and ingame, not counting real-world origins) is a mutated plant that gained bipedal abilities. Their ability to photosynthesize would account for them apparently not needing food on years-long voyages!

But Kerbs seem to be incapable of surviving on the surface (hence why they need helmets on EVA on kerbin) - I personally believe that they are a subterranean species (hence why there are very few signs of life on the surface), to get around the intense radiation that Kerbol must be emitting (as far as we know, kerbin doesn't have a magnetosphere).

The problem is, if you can't stand the sun, how do you photosynthesise?

[Roastduck]

But Kerbs seem to be incapable of surviving on the surface (hence why they need helmets on EVA on kerbin)

EVA reports while on Kerbin often remark on how useless EVA suits are when on Kerbin

[monophonic]

My current pet theory is that kerbals are not a native species of Kerbin. Rather, they are the survivors of an interstellar mission that met some catastrophic failure (Kraken attack?) in the system. Remnants from a disintegrated space ark ending up on Kerbin would nicely explain why so many space ship parts are found simply lying by the side of the road. It would also explain how so many kerbals are recently found simply orbiting by the side of Kerbin. Their drive to reach space to the detriment of all other civil infrastructure would be explained by their desire to get back home. I presume the name "Kerbin" would in this case be diminutive form of their actual homeworld's name. Not being a xenolinguistic I have no idea what it would be though.

[MockKnizzle]

But Kerbs seem to be incapable of surviving on the surface (hence why they need helmets on EVA on kerbin)

The large doors on both the VAB and the SPH are wide open and there are tons of Kerbals running around in lab coats and overalls, so clearly the helmets aren't a necessity.

[Dielos]

My current pet theory is that kerbals are not a native species of Kerbin. Rather, they are the survivors of an interstellar mission that met some catastrophic failure (Kraken attack?) in the system. Remnants from a disintegrated space ark ending up on Kerbin would nicely explain why so many space ship parts are found simply lying by the side of the road. It would also explain how so many kerbals are recently found simply orbiting by the side of Kerbin. Their drive to reach space to the detriment of all other civil infrastructure would be explained by their desire to get back home. I presume the name "Kerbin" would in this case be diminutive form of their actual homeworld's name. Not being a xenolinguistic I have no idea what it would be though.

You are actually quite close as per Nova's original plans... If you search for the Duna SSTV signal easter egg, it will lead you to Nova's original ideas, which are quite similar. The following link takes to his explanations: http://pastebin.com/3vvjushy

Researching a bit about the SSTV signal is actually quite fun...

[Tw1]

You are actually quite close as per Nova's original plans... If you search for the Duna SSTV signal easter egg, it will lead you to Nova's original ideas, which are quite similar. The following link takes to his explanations: http://pastebin.com/3vvjushy

Researching a bit about the SSTV signal is actually quite fun...

Also reminicent of this story: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/entries/634-Kerbal-Khronicles-01-Newcomers

If you want to read about the kerbals' RL origions, I recomend these links

http://www.pcgamesn.com/indie/explosive-origin-story-kerbal-space-program-revealed

http://www.gamefront.com/the-fascinating-origin-of-kerbal-space-program/

http://www.polygon.com/features/2014/1/27/5338438/kerbal-space-program

(I booked mark these to use as info on my KSP origin Fanstory, which I may get back to one day...)

Edited July 30, 2014 by Tw1

[Tw1]

=]'-mod please delete this, y...[/o.i,kmjngbfvdc

Edited July 30, 2014 by Tw1

[Jesrad]

Add the fact that Kerbals start with zero knowledge of the very biome they are sitting in, straight from the start of any career game, and you have a pretty convincing case that they are not native to Kerbin. It's really as if they just got there, and built a space center.

Or maybe... *someone else* built the space center and then left Kerbin (leaving many space ship parts lying around) and Kerbals just 'eventually happened' in the space center afterwards ? But then who and where is this 'someone' ?

People familiar with the backstory of Sergeant Schlock may notice that this pattern is similar here: I posit that Kerbals are the sentient self-evolved descendants of previously unsentient domestic servants of whatever species built the KSC then left in a hurry. Why did they leave ? Well if you know your stellar composition, you can't help but see that Kerbol has mere thousands of years worth of hydrogen as life expectancy, and most of it may already be consumed...

The plot thickens... and I shall call these "someone before" who made the KSC then left... the Forengineers.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Jesrad