You gotta hit the gear button twice. It starts the missions saying everything is extended.
Wha?
"By the nearly unanimous consent of the councilors, we are going to continue trying to rescue Jeb. Hence, we are going to attempt to launch the Jeb-Saver Mark Four."
The engineers assure us that the solar panels are not just held on by duct tape. Suspicion was cast on this notion when one fell off and struck an intern in the head, causing cranial trauma and a solar panel to be stuck to her head.It has a Science Junior to help pass the time, five parachutes, and two dozen solar panels to stop the two batteries from going dry. It also has three solid boosters, three booster engine, and a main engine. An additional, undocumented feature is a secret space tea compartment.
Let's get this show off the ground.

"Oi've done this an 'undred toims afore, guv'na..."
"Stop whining and fly the rocket."The solid fuel boosters are shed a hair (~100 meters) below six kilometers.
Proof that sub-orbital pretty pictures are possible.The gravity turn is turned. The apoapsis is pushed to 81 kilometers; a burn gets us into orbit. Our fuel runs out partway through, screwing up the node, but we still get into orbit.
"Whoi are you 'splainin' this 'gain, guv'na?"

Shut up, Archie. I'm telling a story here.

...A story of how I rescue Jeb. I hope.

"Same 'ere, guv'na, but...th' views worth it 'lone."A burn to correct inclination, and we're half a degree off but half a world apart. Then we get a prograde node to get our orbit fully above Jeb's and...wait.
It could take a while, with 32-minute orbits.1,375 kilometers apart. 1,358 kilometers. 1,329 klicks exact. 1,289.
The two craft and one very lost kerbonaut are about thirds apart.1,237. 1,174. 1,101. 10...18?
Crap.
Well, um. It's getting late, and...well...crap.