'Is there anything out there?'
It's a big question, one asked by millions. Not many had the power to do anything about it.
Yet, the big black void still beckoned. Glittering stars, galaxies, and that big shiny thing that seemed to appear every night-Oh yeah, the Mun.
It loomed overhead, giving no clue as to what it was or what it was doing there. Some speculated that it was a mythically fat dragon that sat on Kerbin every night and blackened the sky. Others said that it was like those color-changing pencils and that somebody was rubbing it every night. The more daring ones suggested that it might be empty, clear, and home to millions and millions of stars.
As much as they disagreed, they could all agree on one thing: A unity of curiosity. Kerbals tried as hard as they could, taping notes to baseballs and throwing them up in the air.
The more educated amongst them, and one of the most laughed-at Kerbals around built on previous successes. Robert H. Koddard had created the liquid-fuel rocket decades before. Other inventors had been creating different models of that. Nobody really understood how they worked, you put gasoline and liquid oxygen together and then it went boom.
The curiosity reached what seemed to be a peak when a giant piece of stone crashed to Kerbin in 1958 (0.18 in KE, Kommon Era). Mass hysteria ensued. "It's dragon droppings!" Some yelled. "The pencil's being sharpened!" Others insisted. "It's a Keteorite, which originates in outer space as a solid piece of debris from such sources as asteroids or comets that survives its impact with the Kerbin's surface!" A few stated, which was perceived by many to be a stand-up comedy act.
Years passed and more were discovered, and quite a few were lost. (These were the ones that fell onto unsuspecting Kerbals and were eaten by them). The curiosity only rose, and attempts got more daring, including a massive tower to the cosmos. (It subsequently failed as Kerbal after Kerbal began to either suffocate or float off into the void).
They tried dragon bait, rubbing the sky (it didn't work) and launching actual rockets. All were inconclusive, as the drop chutes from the rockets fell on top of other unsuspecting Kerbals and eaten. The dragon bait was also eaten by unsuspecting Kerbals. Rubbing the sky only resulted in a sore arm.
The public infatuation with space reached a breaking point, when on May 25, 1961 (0.19 KE), President Jeb F. Kernedy delivered a speech that captured the heart of the nation. "The nation has recently been very focused on space." The President pointed up at the sky. Kerbals covered their heads and opened their mouths.
"That is why, today, I am proud to announce the formation of the KNSA, the Kerbal National Space Agency!" The audience erupted into cheers and applause, mouths still open.
"WE," He paused for effect. "ARE GOING,"The audience held their breath, which was foolish because their mouths were still open. "TO SPACE!"
And with a single sentence, he had captured the hearts of the nation. He had the world enraptured, and publicity ratings for PoliticsTV (All the boring politics, all the time) were actually above three for a few minutes!