Superman has a simple origin. His planet, Krypton, was doomed to blow up, his father, Jor-El, put him in a rocket and sent him to Earth where he gained superpowers under our yellow sun. Since the first telling of his origin back in Action Comics #1in 1938, his story has been depicted numerous times.

One of the differences in each telling of his journey from Krypton to Earth is the size of the ship carrying baby Kal-El. The design of the ship in 1939's Superman #1showed an even bigger ship. Clearly, Superman arriving alone helped shape who he was and who he would become. We've seen other stories (as recently as last year's Last Family of Krypton miniseries) where Superman was joined by his parents. Was it really necessary for him to journey to Earth alone?

Besides being a plot device, it always struck me as odd that Kal-El had to be sent alone. Some versions show a smaller ship but looking at the early interpretations, why didn't one of his parents go with him?

In Superman #6, Superman is able to break through the time barrier and witnesses his parents final moments. Jor-El clearly states that there is room for her and their baby. What's interesting about this is Lara decides to stay behind rather than ensure her infant will be safe and have a mother upon his arrival. Superman #53, from the previous year gave a little more background as well as a simple "good luck" as their helpless child is shot out into space.

It could be argued that the rocket would have a better chance of reaching Earth if it was only carrying Kal-El's weight. This is the how the story goes in later renditions. The journey was too far and the extra weight would require more fuel. But in Superman #53, Jor-El is Krypton's greatest scientist and talks to the Council of Five about building ships to leave the planet. He knew about the dangers and the ship he managed to build was able to hold his wife and son. Some versions show the Kryptonians as cold and a little unfeeling. That would explain how a mother could send out her baby into the coldness of space. But that would mean she either didn't have faith the rocket would make it to Earth or actually did care about Kal-El's safety. Lara also states her wish to give their son a chance.

What's the deal? Why would Superman's mom give up the chance to raise him? Why did she choose to stay with her husband in death rather than live to raise her child? Over the years and with the different tellings of his origin, this decision has been taken away from Lara. In John Byrne's The Man of Steel #1in 1986, the ship is referred to as a matrix orb. Kal-El wasn't even born and the orb would shield him from the poisonous radiation of space. Because it wasn't a normal ship, the choice of Lara accompanying her son wasn't even a question.

With the origin constantly changing, the move was made away from Lara choosing her husband over her child. Both Superman: Birthrightand Superman Secret Origin

show there was no choice. Was Lara a bad mother for abandoning her child? Was the actual reason she stayed behind on a planet that was about to explode? Is this why Kal-El's departure from Krypton has been changed over the years? We may never know the actual answer.

What are your thoughts on why Lara stayed behind? Was it out of love for her husband, love for her child in giving him a stronger chance of survival or was it out of fear in traveling through space?

Plot device, like you said.

" Plot device, like you said. "

It is an interesting question. Even if she knew that her planet was doomed but that her son would live, there is no way to be assured that he would be found on earth by such good parents as the Kents. For instance what if Lex Luthor had found Superman? The planet would be a completely different place, with Lex Luthor acting as surrogate father to Superman (Clark Luthor?). I think based on that you have to assume that there was some sort of compelling reason for her to stay behind. Maybe she couldnt bear to live in a world without ridiculously large head gear which apaprently was worn on a daily basis.

I'm surprised they've never really delved into this more in the books G-Man. 
It really dives into the same types of questions an orphan might feel and the possible conflicts it could cause with them emotionally. 
 
What would a Superman who felt abandoned be like?

Plot as well as the flaws and prejudices Lara would still have from Krypton, could she adjust to being a single mom on Earth.  Plus earlier generations still had the nuclear family of a mom and dad unlike today, perhaps they didn't to mess with that

First and last son to get out of there.

Plot device. 

I'm amazed they can stand in such close proximity to a launching rocket.. It's a wonder it made it passed their atmosphere with that puff of smoke.  And he was the smartest man on Krypton?  Phineas and Ferb have done better with a lot less. 
 
But wasn't the craft bigger so he can grow inside the rocket while it's travelling through space? It's not like he goes in an infant and should land an infant when. it takes about 18 months to get to Mars.  It'll be like in Smallville at the very minimal where he walks out of the corn field around 8 years old or so.

Yeah, definitely a plot device. Kal-El must be unique, or else the character is not special.

" Plot device, like you said. "

For some reason I always remember reading/hearing it was "an experimental" rocket/space craft, which IMHO explains/justifies it's smaller size and scope.  Just saying...

This will answer your question, this is also my response to your question. Just skip to 3:33 or just watch the video from the beginning. Actually start the video at 3:33 or little bit earlier than that 3:28 or so. 
 
  

The in-story answer to this question varied depending to who told the story, but the key point is that it's plot device. The Man of Steel explanation made a bit more sense than others.
 
Another version I found somewhere was that the rocket wasn't meant to be a transport at all, but some sort of unmanned probe, which was hastily jury-rigged by Jor-El into a mini space-ship.

If I remembering correctly, that was for giving Kal-El a better chance of surviving.

Comic books hate science.

I have two reactions after reading this interesting article. A part of me wants to say that yes, despite living in this highly intellectual, highly advanced planet, it is kinda silly that Superman's parents couldn't get a bigger rocket ship to fit all three of them in. But if you think about it, Superman was aging when he was in the rocket and when he landed on planet Earth, he became a few years older than before. If his parents were in the same rocket, they might die of old age. 
 
My other reaction to this is to say that it's only a comic book and who gives a s**t. 

I think you are thinking about it too much bad things happen and sometimes you can't prepare an above post says that krypton might have been years from Earth it would be a disservice and hazard if one of his parents were with him.
 
Why didn't Thomas and Martha have a bodyguard? Or why didn't they hail a taxi? When things go bad people can only react to the situation as best they can and sometimes in hindsight they figure they could have had a better idea. Sh!t happens.

" Plot device.  "

"Yeah, definitely a plot device. Kal-El must be unique, or else the character is not special. "

" Plot device, like you said. "

Lara doesn't go because she can't imagine life without Jor-El. He is her one and only love and without him she would wither away and die. Her Love for he husband is much stronger than her love for her son. The real question is if Lara knew krypton was gonna explode before superman was born would she have had an abortion.

because they we're too lazy.

are you really that hard up for something to post that you can only come up with this? it's explained why there was only room for 1 in just about every version of the story.
 
whether it's because of lack of time to build a full size rocket to failure to get a full size rocket to work to Kryptonians being "bound" to their planet and Jor-El curing his son of it (therefore being unable to leave)
 
And I'm not even an every day superman fan.
 
but seriously..what's next? why did Batman turn to fighting crime?

A single parent in this economy! not a chance

Why did only Kal-El go alone? Because think about it, would you want to travel the stars jam-packed in a spaceship with your mom? Didn't think so... Plus, that would take away from the Kents embedding him with their morals and values. With Lara Lor-Van on Earth, Kal-El would probably rule Earth with his mother. Finally, since Lara Lor-Van would have powers too, would she herself turn evil? Hm.....

" @InnerVenom123 said:

" Plot device, like you said. "

I agree with that. "

Wasn't space travel banned around the time Kal was launched, so Jor-El building a ship for three, even two might end up with him and Lara being arrested and therfefore unable to send their son. 
Even if the ship was big for two, would Lara even survive the journey?  Also Lara wasn't a bad mother, she was just devoted to the man she loved and didn't want her to die alone. Still how could neither of them packed any supplies for Kal=El barring Crystals, I bet the Kents would have loved some super-nappies.

Maybe its the romantic in me but i think its particularly sweet that the couple would wanna be together in their last moments. Of course when you are a family of three you should be looking at family sized spacecrafts. sure the smaller ones are sportier but so impractical for grocery getting and soccer practice.

@norusdog:
I think even in the Superman movie Jor-El agrees that him and his wife will not leave Krypton.

Superman's parents sent that Kryptonian crystal with him that contained all of Krypton's knowledge and imprinted with Jor-El to answer Kal's questions, so they were in a sense with him.

Can someone tell(PM) me what the S stands for?

Speaking of Superman origins...The co-creater of superman's wife, the woman who lois lane was based on, died today :(
 
and back to the story i think just watch smallville abounded