Planets

Planets are a defining feature of many solar systems. They are crucial to the journey, as the local resources can be harvested for metals, minerals and gas. Other discoveries can also be made at crash sites or other locations of intrigue.

Planets visually indicate a number of their properties which the player can notice without their scanner, if it is malfunctioning.



Mission Forecast
The player's vessel will automatically predict the danger (or lack thereof) of a planet by comparing its characteristics. This feature will not function if the Ship Scanner module is damaged.

If the forecast is green or pink, this indicates that there is an infestation on the surface, typically caused by the Mizzurani, and that there is a risk of infestation to crew members.

Harmless
There are no natural dangers for landing on this planet.

Low Risk
The natural dangers for landing on this planet are minor and easily worth overcoming to reach resources or sites of interest on the surface.

High Risk
Landing here poses major dangers to lander and pilot. Upgrades to the lander and selection of a capable lander pilot such as Malcolm Winters is advised.

Deadly
The most serious forecast. Even with upgrades and much player experience, landing presents an extreme danger to the lander and the pilot. It is very possible that any attempt would result in a dead crew member and a destroyed lander.

Gas
Gas planets are special in that they have no surface to land on. Gases are the only resources that can be harvested from these planets, in the gas layers. Gas layers slow down and damage the lander, while the space in between is safe.

Ice
Ice worlds are covered with frozen surfaces and occasionally bodies of liquid. Solid surfaces may be slippery. They often have minerals.

Liquid
Large bodies of liquid cover the surface with a few islands. Metals and minerals can be found on these bodies, and gases infrequently. Resources may be located under the liquid surface. Because the lander is buoyant, reversing thrusters constantly may be necessary to hold position on ocean floors to reach them.

Molten
These hot worlds, either due to proximity to their local star, volcanism, atmosphere or a combination have excessive heat. This may cause lander damage, or burns to the pilot. Metals or gases can sometimes be located on the surface of molten worlds, but generally they are often dangerous and not worth the effort.

Rock
Earth is a rocky planet. Such a world can have any combination of metals, minerals or gases.

Gravity
Gravity is the force which attracts the player's vessel to different celestial bodies. The strength of this force varies with proximity. The larger or more massive the planet or star, the more the strength of gravity pulls, and this will be represented with the space-time grid in the background of the Vessel navigation screen. To a limited extent, the player can take advantage of gravitational forces to reduce how much fuel they use in maneuvering between different locations in a star system.

When landing, gravity determines how quickly their vessel will accelerate towards the surface if the engines are not active.

Under most gravity conditions, a lander can always return to orbit with 4% fuel remaining without running out.

Very Low
Approximately 0.1g or less. Comparable to a small dwarf planet or other minor space object. Downward motion can be entirely arrested with a very brief thrust burst. Descent naturally will be slow, and reaching the surface faster is possible by using the reverse thrusters on the lander.

Low
Comparable to Earth's moon or a dwarf planet. Approximately 0.25g to 0.1g. To reach the surface faster, thrusting downwards can be used.

Average
Comparable to Earth with some variation. Approximately 1.0g. Longer upward thrusts are required to stop falling. Falling uncontrolled will cause damage to the lander.

High
Much more gravity than Earth, anywhere from 2.0 to 5.0g. Insufficient upward thrust can cause the lander to hit the ground hard. Landing entry always starts with some horizontal and vertical velocity. Strong gravity worlds require most or all lander thrust to cancel out initial vertical velocity to prevent a ground collision. Use the game screen's wrap-around effect to cancel out the horizontal velocity and save fuel.

Very High
Gravity comparable to a massive gas giant. Constant upward thrust is necessary to prevent hard landing or collisions with the surface. Very strong gravity worlds require all default lander thrust to cancel out initial vertical velocity to prevent a ground collision.

Extreme
Gravity comparable to a massive gas giant. Very strong gravity worlds require all default lander thrust to minimize the impact damage, that is very often unavoidable.

Convection
Convection refers to wind or atmospheric turbulence. Wind may change direction at any time, and is always parallel to the surface. When the wind changes there might be a few seconds without wind at all that can be used to maneuver the lander to the desired spot on the planet. The convection is stronger on the planet surface than in higher layers of the atmosphere.

None
No forces in any direction means the lander will behave according to pure newtonian motion, like in the video game Lunar Lander.

Light
Weak convection will push the lander marginally and make falling slightly unpredictable. They can cause the lander to move on downhill surfaces.

Moderate
Wind-like forces at this level are fairly comparable to gravity, and may cause the lander to slide quite far or roll if the lander is sitting on a downhill surface. Moderate winds are stronger than weak gravity.

Strong
Strong convection makes it difficult to get the lander in a resting position. Thrusting down might be necessary.

Violent
Violent convection makes it very difficult to get the lander in a resting position. Thrusting down is necessary.

Subarctic
This world is colder than what can be found on Earth.

Arctic
Arctic means temperature is cold, comparable to frozen regions of Earth. There is no risk to a crew member or the lander receiving damage from heat.

Temperate
Temperatures comparable to Earth or otherwise fairly tolerable to humans.

Tropical
Moderate temperatures comparable to the tropical regions of Earth. There is no risk to a crew member or the lander receiving damage from heat.

Searing
The temperature is high and damages the lander. The pilot can get burns on searing planets. The temperature typically occurs on molten planets, or gas or rock planets, which are close to the sun.

Inferno
The temperature is very high and damages the lander even faster. The pilot can get burns on inferno planets. The temperature typically occurs on molten planets.

Atmosphere
Atmosphere does not seem to affect landing or surface operations. It may have a multiplying effect on temperature or convection when it is thick.

Hazards
Planets may have different characteristics that present other risks to the lander or a crew member.

Lightning
Lighting strikes the surface and may strike the lander while in flight. Lightnings inflict damage (incl. defects) and cause the lander engine to fail for a few seconds. Staying on the ground is safe. Lightnings always approach from the back, in consequence the first lightning will never strike the lander and are a warning! Move sideways quickly to escape out of the lightnings range or land on the ground. In real world this is not a major problem, as most aircraft and spacecraft are protected by the faraday cage principle.

Thunderstorms
Lightning frequently strikes the surface and may strike the lander while in flight, as well as more convection.

Some Earthquakes
The surface may jiggle and rumble, which will toss the lander if it is on the surface. The rumbling sound starts shortly before the actual earthquake. It's still possible to start the lander engine and avoid taking damage. This interferes with drilling, but has no effect on the lander in flight.

Heavy Earthquakes
The earthquakes are more frequent and longer. They damage the lander, whenever it touches the ground. The lander can get defects and the pilot injuries.

None
No hazards are always good news.

Lifeforms
Indicates if there are any aliens on the surface.

Structures
Indicates if there are any wrecks, ruins, biotopes, buildings or other artificial constructs.