Yesterday, President John F. Kerman (no relation) gave a passionate speech at the Kerbal Academy, outlining a bold set of goals for the fledgling space program. In no uncertain terms, he called upon all Kerbals to support, before this decade is out getting a Kerbal to the Mun and, if possible, returning him alive. It set out a remarkable goal for the exploration of space, on a timeline that seems impossible.
For readers unaware, the Mun is a large satellite orbiting Kerbin. It is mostly grey in appearance, with craters of various sizes dotting its otherwise smooth surface. It is the large, grey object in the sky on most clear nights.
The Mun’s discovery is widely regarded as one of the more important breakthroughs of Kerbal evolution. Granted it didn’t happen all that long ago, but its still fair to say that Kerbals are wiser and more evolved now than they were back then.
— Kerbal Astronomical Society
The technological challenges of this goal cannot be overstated, the Mun is approximately 12,000km away from Kerbin. There are going to have to be significant upgrades to the capabilities of the Kerbal Space Center, new rockets, new capsules, technologies and materials that do not yet exist. This speech clearly heralds a new age of Research, Development, and spaceflight. We look forward to seeing what new developments are in store.
An excerpt of President Kerman’s speech follows:
“I therefore ask the Kerbals of Kerbin, above and beyond the increases I have earlier requested for space activities, to provide the funds which are needed to meet the following goals:
First, I believe that we should commit ourselves to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a Kerbal on the Mun and if possible returning him safely to Kerbin. No single space project will be more impressive to Kerbalkind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish. We propose to accelerate the development of the appropriate munar space craft. We propose to develop alternate liquid and solid fuel boosters, much larger than any now being developed, until certain which is superior. We propose additional funds for other engine development and for unmanned explorations- explorations which are particularly important for one purpose which we will never overlook: the arrival of the Kerbal who makes this daring flight. But in a very real sense, it will not be one Kerbal going to the Mun- if we make this judgment affirmatively, it will be an entire Kerbal. For all of us must work to put him there.
There is no strife, no prejudice, no conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all Kerbalkind, and its opportunity may never come again. But why, some say, the Mun? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask, why climb that hill over there? Why did we cross the oceans? Why, years ago, did we find the Mun at all?
We choose to go to the Mun! … We choose to go to the Mun in this decade and do the other things,not because they are easy, but because they are easier than other things; because that goal will serve to organize and measure some of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win.”
— President John F. Kerman
