Describes a launch vehicle that is built by strapping together existing components, such as booster rockets or additional stages. It is a reference to the Kerbal Space Program, "create and manage your own space program", which allows players to build custom rockets in exactly that way.
"I would say that of all the new vehicles described here, the Omega is easily the most kerbal since it's just a bunch of parts strapped together." (Scott Manley, "New Glenn, OmegA and Vulcan Get Air Force Approval", YouTube, October 11, 2018, 6:38.)
by Skippy the Wonderhoohoo March 30, 2019
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An adjective used to describe a launch vehicle that is stupidly designed or irrationally large.
The Ares I is the most kerbal rocket ever made. It is essentially a crew capsule on top of a Solid Rocket Booster.
by We are the Floor Tentacles September 7, 2020
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An time consuming abyss of a game that is so enjoyable that you lose all track of time while reaching for the extents of space.
Hey man what are you doing up at 3 A.M.?
Oh shit its 3?? I kerbaled out.
by dsrc September 21, 2013
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little green men (and women) that are used as astronauts in the spaceflight simulator kerbal space program
by yupit'shim March 5, 2021
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Adjective used for describing engineering projects (specifically rockets, aircraft, or spacecraft) that are massively over-engineered, have a remote chance of working as intended, or are otherwise absurd. From the game Kerbal Space Program, a popular spaceflight simulator where the player controls the space program of the titular Kerbals, a race of little green men who, in the words of one developer, "only do the wrong thing all the time, and have stumbled into being an interstellar civilization."
by bruh17777 May 6, 2021
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Rather than by using finesse or ingenuity, solving a complicated problem by throwing epicly massive resources to brute force a solution.
Elon Musk: "At first, I was thinking we would just scale up Falcon Heavy, but it looks like it probably makes more sense just to have a single monster boost stage."
Skov: "Nice to see you are doing things the Kerbal way."
Elon Musk: "Kerbal is awesome!"
by jeeber April 16, 2015
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Kerbal Tunnel is when you get sore wrists from playing Kerbal Space Program for hours on end.
Man, ever since I got weekends off I've had Kerbal Tunnel from spending all damn day playing Kerbal Space Program.
by The Keasbey Knight March 23, 2015
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