Rocketry (Spaced Out) (2024)

This article contains outdated information that is inaccurate for the current version. It was last updated for EX1-469473. Unreflected changes in the discussed game mechanics are detailed here: U43-525812

Construction[ | ]

A Rocket Platform is the mandatory building on which a rocket is assembled. Modules are added in its menu once they have been researched.

A rocket requires at least a command module, an engine (with oxidizer possibly) and a nosecone. Engines are always placed at the bottom and nosecones at the top. Additional modules can be built such as cargo to transport goods and rover modules to visit planetoids; they don't have specific order and they can be reorder without deconstruction.

Due to game limitations, there can only be 16 active command modules at the same time.

Engines[ | ]

Engines limit how high a rocket can be constructed. Each module has a burdening factor that weighs down the rocket, thus slowing its speed (tiles/cycle it travels). Rocket speed = Engine Power divided by total Burden. Neither burden nor weight affect rocket range, only the amount of burnable fuel available.

Module	Material	Engine Power	Burden	Engine Module Height	Max Rocket Height	Wattage	Fuel per Hex	Fuel Tanks	Fuel Capacity	Range
Carbon Dioxide Engine	500 kg Metal Ore	23	3	2	10	N/A	16.7 kg	N/A	100 kg	6
Sugar Engine	500 kg Metal Ore	16	1	3	16	60 W	75 kg	N/A	450 kg	6
Steam Engine	200 kg Refined Metal	27	15	5	25	600 W	15 kg	N/A	150 kg	10
Small Petroleum Engine	200 kg Refined Metal	31	5	4	20	240 W	45 kg	0	450 kg	10
								1	1350 kg	30
								2	1800 kg*	40**
Petroleum Engine	200 kg Steel	48	6	5	35	480 W	90 kg	1	900 kg	10
								2	1800 kg	20
								3	2700 kg	30
								4	3600 kg	40**
Radbolt Engine	500 kg Steel	34	5	5	20	N/A	200 Radbolts	N/A	4000 Radbolts	20
Hydrogen Engine	500 kg Steel	55	7	5	35	600 W	56.3 kg	1	900 kg	16
								2	1800 kg	32
								3	2700 kg	48
								4	3600 kg	64**

* While it can take more fuel, it's not possible to have enough Oxidizer for that much fuel.

** This is only possible with Liquid Oxygen.

Fuel tanks and Oxidizers[ | ]

Sugar, Petroleum and Hydrogen-propulsed rockets require oxidizer at a ratio of 1:1 per kg of fuel when using Fertilizer, 1:2 when using Oxylite, and 1:4 when using Liquid Oxygen.

Note that the Large Solid Oxidizer Tank is a trap and should never be used because two small Oxidizer tanks have the same capacity but with 1 less height and 1 less burden.

Module	Material	Burden	Height	Storage Capacity
Large Liquid Fuel Tank	100 kg Steel	5	5	900 kg
Small Solid Oxidizer Tank	200 kg Metal Ore	2	2	450 kg
Large Solid Oxidizer Tank	100 kg Steel	5	5	900 kg
Liquid Oxidizer Tank	100 kg Steel	5	2	450 kg

Cargo Modules[ | ]

Cargo carry goods from or to asteroids, or fulfill any survival needs of the command capsule. Each module features an external port that corresponds to their specific resource, which is unlocked via the same research as the module variant. This port must be in direct contact with either the rocket platform or another port. Fittings carry anything from a cargo module into the command capsule.

Module	Material	Burden	Height	Carry Capacity
Cargo Bay	200 kg Refined Metal	4	3	12000 kg Solids
Large Cargo Bay	1000 kg Steel	6	5	27000 kg Solids
Liquid Cargo Tank	200 kg Refined Metal	3	3	9000 kg Liquids
Large Liquid Cargo Tank	1000 kg Steel	5	5	27000 kg Liquids
Gas Cargo Canister	200 kg Refined Metal	2	3	3600 kg Gasses
Large Gas Cargo Canister	1000 kg Steel	4	5	11000 kg Gasses

Utility Modules[ | ]

Utility modules are used to better explore and colonize asteroids or make rockets command modules livable longer.

Module	Material	Burden	Height	Description
Orbital Cargo Module	400 kg Metal Ore	4	2	Delivers cargo to the surface of Planetoids in several small packages which totals to up to 6000 kg.
Rover Module	200 kg Metal Ore	4	3	Deploys a Rover Bot for remote Planetoid exploration.
Trailblazer Module	200 kg Refined Metal	4	3	Enables landing for one Duplicant to Planetoids that do not yet have a Rocket Platform.
Cartographic Module	350 kg Steel 1000 kg Plastic	3	5	Automatically analyzes adjacent space while on a voyage (this is instant for Planetoids) thus enables moving to unrevealed space.
Battery Module	400 kg Metal Ore	2	2	Stores 100 kJ of power and leaks 400 J per cycle, while producing no heat. It thus acts as a superior version of the Jumbo Battery.
Solar Panel Module	200 kg Glass	1	1	Produces 60 W when there is sunlight, which can be used with the power outlet fitting to power equipment inside the rocket.
Artifact Transport Module	200 kg Refined Metal	6	1	Collects and transports Artifacts from Space POI.

Command Modules and Nosecones[ | ]

Command modules are required for the rocket to function and only one can be part of any rocket. Solo Spacefarer Nosecone can only be build at the top of the rocket while Spacefarer Module can be build anywhere but takes an extra Basic Nosecone or Drillcone.

Module	Material	Burden	Height
Solo Spacefarer Nosecone	200 kg Metal Ore	3	3
Spacefarer Module	200 kg Metal Ore	6	4
Basic Nosecone	400 kg Refined Metal 200 kg Insulator	2	2
Drillcone	400 kg Refined Metal 200 kg Plastic	2	4

Rocket Interior[ | ]

Solo Spacefarer Nosecone functions as both the command module and nosecone, and is a total of 28 tiles in size. Spacefarer Module offers a bigger 10x8 interior to be furnished, but does not serve as a nosecone.

Launch[ | ]

In order for the rocket to launch, the command module checks for various conditions:

A destination must be set.
The rocket cannot have any pending constructions (it can be launched if a lander is not constructed).
A rocket must have an engine and nosecone.
A rocket must have a fuel tank (most engines have a fuel tank included).
Cannot be over rocket engine height limit.
The rocket must be sufficiently fueled to reach the destination (it can be launched even if there is not enough fuel to return).
Cargo transfer must be complete (rocket can still be launched with partially filled cargo).
Skilled crew must be onboard (crew is set through the pop-up and no other passengers are aboard).

Landing[ | ]

A rocket cannot land on a planetoid that does not possess a Rocket Platform. If so, a duplicant must be first sent via the Teleporter Transmitter or in a Trailblazer to the surface in order to construct one. In the event that multiple rocket platforms are available, the rocket will default to selecting one randomly; alternatively, the player can specify the platform to land on.

Heat and Exhaust[ | ]

All rockets project a large amount of heat onto all cells from the bottom of the engine; the area of projection is a 3x9 rectangle from the exhaust (3x7 from below the Rocket Platform); this includes cells past walls beneath the platform.

Any cells within this area will be superheated, including gases emitted by the engines themselves; the exact amount of heat is unclear, though the following has been observed:

Carbon Dioxide emissions from Petroleum-using engines can reach above 1500 °C with a density up to 6.0 kg per tile.
Squares with 80 to 100 g of Oxygen (made thin by being vented into regions next to the void of space) can reach more than 2000 °C, suggesting that the projection is a flat heat output instead of heat transfer from a hotter object.