how to keep a kerbal on the command module

How do I keep a Kerbal on the command module? I can barely get in orbit be for I run out of fuel and I need more science to get farther, but I can't without an EVA report and a review report for it, because I can't keep the Kerbal on the module long enough to do both and get back in.

Do I need to hold spacebar or does it automatically hold on for you to do that? I've looked around everywhere to find a question like this, but it must be so simple that everyone can stay on, but me. I've check out these other questions, but they don't answer my question:

How do I do science?

and

How to produce an EVA report

that would help me get tremendously farther in the game IF I could say on the module.

Solution 1:

Don't go onto an EVA when you are still flying through the atmosphere or your kerbal will get blown away.

When you go on EVA, always press F as fast as possible to grab the ladder at the hatch. Sometimes the kerbal will already be on the ladder when you go on EVA and get right back in, but when he isn't, the chance is high that he will drift away when you don't grab the ladder quickly. When the kerbal goes drifting, you can activate his jetpack with the R key and attempt to maneuver him back to the hatch, but this takes a bit of practise.

By the way: You can also obtain science from the surface of Kerbin. It doesn't give you many science points, but every terrain type gives you other results which add up. It's enough to unlock the first few tech nodes. Low-hanging fruits to pick up early are crew reports, eva reports and surface samples from:

• Launch pad
• Spaceplane Runway
• Space Center (everything around the buildings which is not one of the two above)
• Shores (the flat plain around the space center)
• Grasslands (the slightly hilly area to the west)
• Highlands (the more hilly area further to the west)
• Ocean (your Kerbals can swim)

The first two can be easily picked up without even igniting your engine. The others only take a small sub-orbital flight (or a bit of walking)

Solution 2:

If I understand you correctly, you are trying to do an EVA mid flight, while still in the atmosphere.
This isn't really possible as the drag on your Kerbal will rip him away from the capsule.

It is possible to EVA in the upper atmosphere without losing connection to the capsule, the drag is minimal here. In space above Kerbin you can use your personal RCS pack (Jetpack). Activate it using R and control flight with WASD, shift and Ctrl. It might be possible to RCS in the upper atmosphere, too, but I've never tried that.

You can however EVA on the launchpad, this will also give you an "EVA report while flying over Kerbins shores" as the Kerbal is considered to be flying when not touching the ground but holding the ladder.
You can do the same when after landing, just make sure not to touch the ground to get another "flying" report. Touching the ground will give another report.