Space · How it works
Autopilot: into orbit
Pick a body at the navigation table: the game shows the fuel it takes, then flies the ship into its orbit by itself.
In the game
How to get it
Right-click the navigation table, click a planet on the strip or in the list: its lights say whether the tanks pay the way (green), almost (orange) or not from here (grey). Orange also means a one-way trip: the tanks pay the way there, not the way home, and GO asks a second click. Press GO.
What it is for
Every planet, moon, giant and the Sun in 45 seconds to 4 minutes; the ship arrives on a parking orbit, facing the planet, and whoever is aboard comes along.
Why it exists
A 13-year-old must be able to cross the Solar System without any maths.
The same text the game shows in its progress tree and on the item's sheet (I).
What it is for
Every planet, moon, giant and the Sun in 45 seconds to 4 minutes; the ship arrives on a parking orbit, facing the planet, and whoever is aboard comes along. On the way the map's SPACE view (M) draws it round the Sun: the part flown, the part ahead, the ship and the time left.
The ways
| From the Earth's orbit | Way | Helium-3 | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mars | 1.8 km/s | 8 | 1 min 35 |
| Venus | 2.1 km/s | 9 | 1 min 20 |
| Mercury | 4.1 km/s | 17 | 1 min 15 |
| Europa (Jupiter) | 3.7 km/s | 15 | 2 min 20 |
| Titan (Saturn) | 3.2 km/s | 13 | 2 min 45 |
| Miranda (Uranus) | 3.7 km/s (3.3 by Jupiter) | 15 | 3 min 20 |
| Triton (Neptune) | 3.3 km/s (2.7 by Jupiter) | 14 | 3 min 45 |
| Pluto | 3.6 km/s (2.6 by Jupiter) | 15 | 4 min |
| The Sun | 7.6 km/s | 31 | 1 min 05 |
Easier phase by phase
- Phase 1: methane hauled up from the Earth and the Moon's helium-3 take you to Mars.
- On Mars the methane plant fills the tanks for Venus, Mercury and the giants.
- Once at Jupiter, its swing-by cuts the ways beyond it.
- On Titan the lakes are methane: from there Uranus, Neptune and Pluto cost little.
Far from home
- Round a giant or the Sun no rocket flies: they stay docked.
- The pilot console's orbit autopilot keeps to the Earth and the Moon; far from home the navigation table sets the way.
- The ship cannot be taken apart far from home.
- Helium-3 comes only from the Moon: bring enough for the way back. The table warns (orange, Not enough to come back) and GO asks a second click before a one-way trip. On Mars and Titan the methane plant refills the methane.
On the progress path
SY2The Solar SystemMain path
- BeforeSY1 · Interplanetary ship
- This stepSY2 · Autopilot: into orbit
- NextSY3 · Suited for the planets
Sub-actions (counted in your progress)