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Summary[ | ]
This page contains entries from the Tablet's Knowledge/Knowledge screen.
Note: the information in Marsopedia may diverge from the actual state of game mechanics and objects due to the game being in the Early Access stage.
Entries[ | ]
Buildings[ | ]
3D Printer[ | ]
A mini 3D printer that can be built inside the Workshop. It can print only smaller decorative objects or building components. You can't print whole sets needed for buildings but you can print separate parts.
A smaller version of such printer is allso a component inside the Arktur landing capsule. It does not have a rock processing function, for which reason you need to bring already crushed rocks to it.
Additive manufacturing is a milestone in industrial thinking not only on Earth. For years the scientists and engineers from Earth troubled themselves with creating preculiar schematics and blueprints that would help future Mars explorers on their mission. 3D printing solves an enormous number of problems whilst giving the engineers a chance to prepare more advanced plans and concepts. The designers of the printer that you can use, paid special attention to the use of indigenous materials and recycling of plastics. Such an arrangement allows you to build complex structures with almost unlimited resources.
4-Way Connector[ | ]
The 4-Way Connector is an important building which connects 4 different corridors or buildings together and passes electricity, water, heating and oxygen supply in all directions.
In the middle of it, you will find an opening in the floor which houses a fusebox allowing you to quickly disconnect parts of the base, for example to save electricity.
Airlock Iris[ | ]
The Airlock is one of the most important structures you can build on Mars. Apart from functioning as a door it also helps to maintain the right pressure inside the base and keeps the air from leaking out.
It also has an integrated fast pressure pump which can equalize pressure between inside and outside in seconds. You should always build two airlocks connected to each other to avoid depressurization.
Mars' thin atmosphere is uninhabitable for creatures from Earth, which is why every habitat you build needs to be adapted accordingly to dweller's needs. In case of humans, the pressure should reach at least 900 mbars.
Arktur Capsule[ | ]
The Arktur Capsule is the Multi-Purpose Landing Capsule which can serve as basic living quarters, bathroom, and tool shed. It's one of the first buildings delivered to the Red Planet. The Capsules are pressurized and provide short term heating and radiation shielding but should be connected to other buildings via corridors and connectors to provide energy and water supply through connectors in the floor. The built-in engines can only work as a launch escape or landing system from orbital speeds.
Basic Shredder[ | ]
Much smaller version of the Big Shredder, both in regard to its size and functinalities. Ore needs to be moved to a Shredder either manually or straight from the trailer by parking the rover in the unloading zone.
Warning: you have to be extra careful when unloading the trailer and stay away from the open hatch. If you accidentally fall through the hatch, the Shredder may crush the careless astronaut along with the rocks.
Bathroom Capsule[ | ]
The Bathroom Capsule is the Arktur Capsule variant with water connections. Equipped with a sink, a vacuum toilet and a shower this building is essential for keeping astronauts and their clothes clean. There's also an energy-efficient washing machine for washing the spacesuits. The waste tanks produced by the toilet are an invaluable resource of fertilizer for the Greenhouses. It's estimated that there should be 1 Bathroom Capsule build for every 3 Living Quarters.
Battery Pack[ | ]
The Battery Packs are used to store energy collected during the day and allow to use this energy during the night. They are also priceless during longer sandstorms when there may be not enough sunlight for many days in a row.
Batteries are also essential to grow plants as without them the plants will wither during the night due to low temperature.
Just like with the ECU, Battery Packs also have expansions to increase the storage capacity. You can build up to 5 expansions in a row.
Battery Rack[ | ]
Battery Rack developed to power backup batteries for crew members at the base. Specially designed charging slots are capable of providing a suitable current flow, which can be extremely useful in situations where a depleted battery or accumulator needs to be replaced with ready-to-use units.
Bed[ | ]
Everybody needs to sleep. Sleep-deprived astronauts become tired faster and start having health problems. This Bed is very comfortable and futuristic looking. There is also a lamp for reading and a board for keeping Astronauts' pictures and personal items.
There are many bed variants - different ones (more rounded) can be found in Living Capsules, different in Main HAB building, different in Rover or Workshop.
Big Shredder[ | ]
Big Shredder crushes and segregates minerals, which have to be delivered by driving the rover for the ramp and placing the loaded trailer over the unloading zone. It allows to manually dump the mined ore after opening the shredder's hatch. With this machine, you can instantly print sets, parts, tools or rover trailers. You can also store your trailers inside the shredder. To work properly, Big Shredder requires a supply of power, just like every other building of your base. It also comes with a vast storage.
Warning: you have to be extra careful when unloading the trailer and stay away from the open hatch. If you accidentally fall through the hatch, the Shredder may crush the careless astronaut along with the rocks.
Big Wind Turbine[ | ]
Wind turbines designed for the atmospheric conditions prevailing on the Red Planet. Initially, the wind turbines, whose design was considered for use on Mars, underwent tests in Antarctica. Only after obtaining the required results was it possible to introduce turbines on an extraterrestrial planet. Their advantage lies in the fact that they generate a significant amount of energy during dust storms when solar panels do not have access to sunlight. This project has been expanded. Initially, this solution was categorized as risky, but turned out to be perfectly suited for the intended location.
Canteen[ | ]
Canteen is the living and dining room where the whole crew of the base needs to eat and spend some free time together. It consists of a bar, tables, storage for utensils and drinks. There's also usually a place for Food Processing Unit and Fridge or Storage Units inside.
Some Canteens also have sofas and TV/gaming corner for some entertainment during long Martian nights and winters.
Capsule Connector[ | ]
The 3-Way Capsule Connector is the default way to optimally connect 3 Arktur Capsules to the standard Corridors. They provide separate pressurized door for each capsule which ensures safety and privacy of the users. There's also a special 1-Way Capsule Adapter variant for connecting single capsules which comes handy in some situations.
ChemLab[ | ]
The Chemlab is designed to carry out chemical reactions. Use it to conduct experiments, discover new materials and substances from resources found on Mars. It is equipped with the instruments necessary for research. These include vials, a distiller, an electroysis tool, a water and CO2 tap, a mini crusher, a reactor with adjustable temperature and pressure settings. With its help, it is possible to carry out a Sabatier Reaction, create alcohol and rocket fuel or carry out an electrolysis reaction.
A Mars explorer has to be an expert in various fields of science, including chemistry as sometimes you might find it necessary to dabble in chemicals production. Whether you need to use electolysis or create a chemical reaction, your chemlab comes in handy.
CO2 Scrubber[ | ]
A CO2 Scrubber is essential for removing CO2 from the air. Air polluted with CO2 is pumped into the scrubber, which reaches an ion exchange resin that isolates the CO2 molecule from other gases. In this way it generates oxygen and allows astronauts to be in the base without a helmet.
The filter is equipped with knobs and levers for optimal oxygen production. They can only be operated when the device is turned off. With sufficient oxygen in the base, it is possible to create an oxygen bottle. Warning: the device explodes when it reaches 100 degrees. It is possible to place more than 1 filter in the Martian base.
Carbon Dioxide may play an important role in making Mars a planet habitable for humans, but this does not change the fact that in a longer perspective, CO2 is, in fact, an enemy of humankind. If the habs and other facilities created to shelter Mars explorers are to be fit to occupy, it's urgent to constantly extract this respiratory side-product by the use of special filtering systems. On the one hand, removal of carbon dioxide can be done by chemical reaction as well, as it was done by sprinkling lime in early submarines in 1940s. However, technological advancement allowed scientists to design CO2 scrubbers that filter the air, and remove carbon dioxide from atmosphere in a healthier way. Besides submarines, CO2 scrubbers were used also by NASA. Carbon Dioxide Removal Assembly (CDRA) was extremely useful part of the International Space Station, which actually allowed the station to operate. CO2 Scrubbers, like CDRA, in order to be recyclable machines, and not to waste precious O2, are arranged to cooperate with CO2 Sabatier reaction tools that produce methane and water.
Corridors[ | ]
The Corridors provide a way to travel between different sections of the base without the need to use pressurized spacesuits. Their modular construction allows for quick expansion of the base. Each corridor section is equipped with anti-radiation shields in the walls as well as pipes and cables embedded in the floor which automatically transfer important resources throughout the base. There are many corridor lengths and variants. There are versions with or without windows.
Deep Space Antenna[ | ]
The Deep Space Antenna is a building which enables direct connection between Mars and Earth without the need for relay satellites on Mars orbit. The same kind of antennas are located on Earth in places like California, Australia and Spain.
In case of satellite failure it may be the only way to contact Earth, however it requires a lot of resources to build and even more power to operate.
Domes[ | ]
The Domes are our Martian gardens - they are the final step of plant cultivation. When your plants, trees or vegetables get big enough that they no longer fit in the Greenhouse - you need to re-plant them into the Domes to create a beautiful garden. The stage-4 plants generate the most Oxygen and filter out the most CO2. They will also give you fruits. There are 3 Dome sizes available.
Electricity System[ | ]
The Electricity System is one of the most important and most complicated systems in the game. In order to do anything on Mars - you need power. Power to light-up and heat any building is essential for survival. You also need power to charge your electric-only vehicles or your Spacesuit.
There are many ways to generate electricity in the game. From Solar Panels to Kilopower Reactors.
Food Processing Unit[ | ]
This food processor is exclusively designed to be built within the base. It efficiently transforms harvested crops into packaged, edible Food Ration Packs that have a much longer lifespan than fresh produce. Each pack can be created with up to 4 ingredients and the machine displays the nutritional level of the food item after processing.
As with any machine, there is a specific pattern to its operation, and filling every slot with vegetables results in more nutritious food. The number of packs that can be produced depends of the slot with the smallest number of ingredients. It is recommended to experiment with different combinations of vegetables to maximize the nutritional value of each meal.
Greenhouse[ | ]
The Greenhouse is one of the most important buildings in the game as it provides a way to grow crops and food necessary to survive. Each plant has a multi-step growth process: first seeds can be extracted from fruits in the Sampling Machine, then they are planted in the Plant Incubator for optimal early stage growth. Later they are re-planted onto the hydroponic shelves and once they grow bigger, they can be re-planted into the fields. Due to windows in the ceiling it provides limited radiation shielding while letting more light in, however there's an option to activate additional shield in case of predicted solar storms.
If you plan on inhabiting a foreign planet for a longer period of time, you cannot rely solely on ex-situ food rationing. Growing plants is an essential step forward in making a potential colony self-sustainable. Unfortunately, sowing seeds into soil isn't simply enough to grow plants on Mars. Plants are not equipped with any evolutionary preadaptation to changes in atmospheric pressure. What is more, plants misinterpret a change in pressure and gravity as drought, which eventually leads to their quicker death. Of course, this does not mean that growing plants outside Earth is impossible, but the best way to do that is to artifically keep greenhouses pressurized, just like in case of the hab. Another problem that scientists were forced to dwell upon is caused by Martian soil, which is not as fertile as the soil on Earth but this problem can be easily overcome with advanced knowledge in chemistry.
HAB[ | ]
HAB (aka Headquarters) is the main and center building of the base. It has 4-way connectors to allow fast access to other parts of the base. It also has 12 furniture slots (8 on top and 4 on the bottom floor) which is a big improvement compared to the basic Workshop. It houses the most important items needed by the leader of the base. The inside can house various Desks, the Workbench, Chemlab, CO2 Scrubber, 3D Printer, Food Processing Unit, additional Hydroponic Shelves or a Bed.
The Antenna on top of the Main HAB provides the range for the Remote Control connection of Rover and other remotely controlled vehicles in the vicinity of the base. Special pylons should be constructed for extending the range.
The HAB, short for "The Mars Lander Habitat", is an artifical living quarter designed to withstand harsh Martian conditions on the outside, and support all life that is dwelling inside. At the early stages of constructing and crafting on Mars, the prototypes and first models of habs offered limited durability as the structure components had to be pre-manufactured on Earth. Additive manufacturing of the parts using the materials obtained directly from Mars made the buildings more robust and sturdy. Currently, considering human lifetime perspective, the habs are thought to be everlasting.
Hangar[ | ]
The Hangar is one of the biggest buildings in the game. It's a safe garage for your vehicles which prevents damage from sandstorms and other dangerous weather events. It features a giant opening gate which becomes a ramp for the vehicles. When the gate is closed the inside of it becomes pressurized. Inside it has electricity sockets for charging your vehicles. It also has a ceiling crane which helps with lifting heavy objects. The solar panels on top generate additional electricity for the base.
Landing Capsule[ | ]
The Landing Capsule is the Arktur Capsule variant equipped with 3 chairs, control screen and all the basic tools necessary to survive the first days on Mars. Astronauts sometimes call it "the shed".
Launch Tower[ | ]
The Launchpad is one of the final buildings in the game. It has an elevator which lets player ingress to and egress from the rocket through a special retractable corridor. It's standardized to support both the ITS and the Orbital Booster.
The Launch Tower is equipped with fuel and oxidizer tanks for efficient storage and fueling of rockets before launch. It also has additional exhaust deflectors.
Living Capsule[ | ]
The Living variant of the Arktur Capsule provides personal space for 1 crew member. It's essentially his private habitat, connected with other habitats using pressurized corridors. The Capsule itself is pressurized as well for additional safety. Its modular design allows for quick connection of power, heating and oxygen inputs with the rest of the base. The capsules come in various interior design versions to allow for personalization of living space. In case of depressurization of corridor or loss of power a manual lever allows for safe exit.
Pump Station[ | ]
The Pump Splitter is used to split pipe-transfered substances from multiple inputs to multiple outputs. It can transfer Oxygen, Water or Methane in any configuration set on the screen. It's important however not to mix those substances.
With this device it's possible to transfer substances to and from multiple buildings, tanks, wells or Sabatier Reactors.
Just like Transformers and Batteries it also has expansions allowing for more inputs and outputs.
Resources Tanks[ | ]
The tanks store water and gases like oxygen or methane. They have colours with different color accents. Blue for water, green for oxygen and red for methane. When planning the base, it is worth to reserve a place for them, due to their capacity. They have two sockets to which pipes can be connected.
Sabatier Reactor[ | ]
We can place two Sabatier Reactors next to each Well. They require connecting tanks and the supply of an appropriate amount of energy (15 kW) to function properly. They generate oxygen and methane.
These structures, designed by ERA, are capable of breaking down water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen.
The Sabatier process utilizes the high carbon dioxide content in the Martian atmosphere. Carbon dioxide undergoes hydrogenation, resulting in the production of methane.
Solar Panels[ | ]
Solar Panels are the most common and cheapest way to generate electricity on Mars. Modern Solar Panels are advanced enough so that they generate enough electricity for all the needs of a base.
In the game there are 3 types of Solar Panels: Small, Medium and Large. Small panels are the cheapest, medium ones are the most cost effective and the big ones generate the most power but require heavy concrete foundation.
Storage Units[ | ]
The Wardrobe also known as Cabinet or Storage Unit provides a way to store items when player's inventory becomes full.
It comes in many different shapes and sizes depending on a building in which it is located. Some wardrobes store spacesuits, others can store a full inventory of items such as building materials.
The Fridge is a special version of Storage Unit which is best for storing food, fruits and vegetables. It prevents your food from becoming spoiled over time which is crucial on Mars.
Transformer (ECU)[ | ]
Transformer (also known as Energy Control Unit) is the device used for connecting multiple energy sources as input and splitting the energy into multiple outputs. Every bigger base or power plant requires multiple ECU's.
You can connect them together in series or lines to achieve more power or to connect more inputs/outputs together. Remember that they don't store energy during the night so you need to connect them to Batteries.
Transformer Expansions[ | ]
The Transformer Expansion allows to control more inputs and outputs from the same ECU screen. They are essential in bigger power plants and cheaper to build than separate transformers. You can connect up to 4 expansions to a single Transformer.
The load-balancing of electricity is only possible in percentages to avoid power losses and rounding losses in case of using kWh balancing. The amount of output power set by the user always depends on the input power provided and sums to 100% on all outputs.
Wardrobe[ | ]
The structure is designed with the aim of creating a safe space for changing suits. Considering that changing suits is not a quick task, it was necessary to design a space where the process could be as short as possible while ensuring the astronaut's protection against sudden oxygen loss or pressure change caused by premature opening of the Iris airlock. For this reason, any changes between work suits should take place in this controlled environment.
Well[ | ]
The Well, essential for any operations, is used to extract and store water retrieved from the ice beneath the surface of Mars. Additional storage tanks can be attached to it. It has an option to expand with two Sabatier reactors, to which a corresponding tank must be added. It is equipped with a panel to check the current status of the stored resources and, if water is already collected, there is an option to generate oxygen bottles.
The Well itself generates the electricity required for its operaion during the day. It needs to be supplied with sufficient energy to operate after sunset. In addition, each Sabatier Reactor added will increase its demand by 5 kW, up to a maximum of 15 kW.
For years, the presence of water on Mars was a question of utmost importance. As it was confirmed in 2019 by photographic research, the entirety of Mars is abundant in frozen subsurface water deposits located deeply under the planet's surface. Furthermore, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter analyzed Mars' south pole underground tank of water, which helped scientists define Martian water composition. This knowledge was crucial to allow scientists to prepare advanced equipment for water extraction and treatment. The well you can build uses the process of, so called, reverse osmosis to desalinate water and make it drinkable. Reverse osmosis is a term describing the process of forcing high-pressured water through a special filter which effectively stops big molecules of salt. Despite the fact that this method is quite effective, the end product is, in fact, a little bit salty.
Wind Turbine[ | ]
Wind turbines designed for the atmospheric conditions prevailing on the Red Planet. Initially, the wind turbines, whose design was considered for use on Mars, underwent tests in Antarctica. Only after obtaining the required results was it possible to introduce turbines on an extraterrestrial planet. Their advantage lies in the fact that they generate a significant amount of energy during dust storms when solar panels do not have access to sunlight.
Workbench[ | ]
The Workbench is the electrician's main workplace. It allows players to fix PCB electronic boards, disassemble electronic devices, use screwdriver, soldering iron, hot air tool, multimeter or an X-ray zooming monitor. Another use of Workbench is the ability to upgrade tools using the automated robotic arm. Upgraded tools such as Blowtorch or Spectral Detector will have longer range and better performance.
Relying on electronics always requires some hardware maintenance. Supposing you don't have an assistant at your disposal, you need to take care of the hard job yourself. While colonizing Mars, it's strongly recommended to keep all the necessary equipment in one place to increase the efficiency of your maintenance work.
Workshop[ | ]
The Martian Workshop is the main place to work in a pressurized environment at the beginning of the game. It contains 8 slots for furniture or equipment. Inside you can choose to build things like: Hydroponic Shelves, Workbench, 3D Printer, CO2 Scrubber, Plant Incubators, Food Processing Unit, additional storage, additional tanks for Water or Oxygen, or even the Bed. Due to windows in the ceiling it provides limited radiation shiedling while letting more light in.
Workshop Sink[ | ]
Device enchancing the comfort of Era workers, especially in rooms where manual work is performed. Additionally, the design has been equipped with the capability to replenish water in crew suits.
Planet Mars[ | ]
Ares Vallis[ | ]
Outflow Channel, named after the Greek counterpart of Mars. It formed as a result of a catastrophic flood billions of years ago. In 1997, during the Pathfinder mission, the Sojourner rover explored this area and transmitted data to Earth. The collected data provided valuable information about Mars and helped pave the way for future Mars exploration missions.
Arsia Mons[ | ]
Rising 20 kilometers high, one of the largest shield volcanoes on Mars, part of the volcanic region of Tharsis. It is located near the Martian equator. It has a shield-like shape or genrly sloping bowl shape. Its diameter measures 250 kilometers. At the summit of the volcano, there is a caldera, a volcanic crater, with a diameter of approximately 110 kilometers. Arsia Mons has been studied during various Martian missions and has helped Earth scientists understand the history of volcanic activity on Mars.
Atmosphere[ | ]
Mars has a thin layer of atnosphere composed of CO2 (96%), Argon (1,93%) and Nitrogen (1,89%). Consequently, the pressure it creates is merely a per mil of the Earth's pressure. Furthermore, the Red Planet is located farther away from the sun, which significantly affects the atmospheric conditions. Temperatures on Mars are unstable, varying from up to 15C on the equator during summer, to -150C on the poles in winter. They can drop and charge within just hours, which is unusual in contrast to Earth. The average temperature of Mars is -63C.
Meteorites[ | ]
Meteorites do hit the surface of the Red Planet more frequently than Earth. It's because Mars' location in the solar system is closer to the asteroid belt. However, the majority of bigger asteroids is being swept by the gravitational field of farther, bigger planets like Saturn and Jupiter. What asteroids reach Mars, is an insignificant number that does put the future of Mars colonization in danger. It's a good moment tell the difference between asteroids, meteores, meteorites and comets.
A comet is a body of ice, rock or metal orbiting the sun. Comets can be several kilometers in diameter and they are usually the source of meteoroids.
A meteoroid is a small rocky or metal object usually in a size of a grain of sand or a boulder. Meteoroids orbit the sun and can originate from comets and asteroids.
Meteor is a meteoroid that enters the atmosphere of a planet and evaporates before reaching the surface.
Meteorites are the meteoroids that enter the atmosphere of a planet and hit the surface.
Asteroids are objects made of rock or metal that are bigger than meteoroids (10 meters in diameter and more).
Canyons[ | ]
Identically as in the case of mountains, Martian canyons dwarf those found on Earth while compared. The biggest Martian canyon, Valles Marineris, is 4,000 km (2,500 miles) long, 200 km (125 miles) wide and its bottom is up to 10 km (6 miles) deep. By comparison, Earth' natural wonder, the Grand Canyon, is only 446 km (227 miles) long, 30 km (18 miles) wide, and 1,6 km (1 mile) deep. Valles Marineris is located just beneath the Martian equator and stretches from East to West. Thanks to its extraordinary size, it's possible to observe the canyon directly from Earth through a telescope. Similarly to mountains, canyons on Mars might be the result of magma eruptions that caused cracks in the planet's crust, or they might be also associated with the have flow of water.
Caves[ | ]
It's very easy to get lost in the cave if you have no light to help you on the way. It's worth exploring them to find precious minerals, such as uranium.
Cerberus Fossae[ | ]
A set of linear cracks or fissures located on the surface of the Red Planet. Cerberus Fossae consists of a series of parallel channels or fissures that stretch for hundreds of kilometers. These fissures typcally have widths of several kilometers and exhibit a relatively simple or linear pattern. Research conducted in this area has provided information about the geological history of the region and the processes that have shaped the surface of Mars.
Claritas Fossae[ | ]
It consists of a series of long, linear depressions or channels that run parallel to each other. These channels can be several kilometers wide and have varying depths. Research missions conducted in this area have provided valuable data on the geological characteristics of the region, helping scientists gain insights into the tectonic history and evolution of Mars.
Claritas Rupes[ | ]
Claritas Rupes is a system of cliffs or scarps that extend for hundreds of kilometers. These cliffs are characterized by steep slopes and vertical or nearly verticall walls. The term "rupes" means "cliffs" in Latin. The cliffs present in this region have been studied and provided information about the composition, structure, and formation of Mars cliffs.
Craters[ | ]
On the Red Planet's surface, over 43 thousand impact craters have been recorded, with a diameter of more than 5 kilometers. This number would surely be much higher if smaller craters were taken into account as well. You can find the craters of varying size in the game.
Craters can be divided into two types. Those resulting from an impact with a bolide, or those created by volcanic activity. Both of the types are equally important as they might provide considerably large amount of data. Examination of crateres and their ejecta is one of the key sources of insight used to establish properties of Martian crust, landscape formation and underground composition. Unlike Earth, Mars does not feature plate tectonics, wind or water erosion, which preserves Martian craters almost intact. one of the most stunning impact craters on Mars is Korolev crater, located on the north-east part of the planet. It's an ice-water filled circle that is over 81 km in diameter.
Dorsa Argentea[ | ]
A collective term for the network of ridges or wrinkles known as the "Silver Ridges" of Mars. Dorsa, which means "ridges" in Latin, are found in various locations on the planet. They are characterized by elongated and undulating shapes.
Dunes[ | ]
The way Martian terrain is shaped doesn't protect the landscape from the wind. Dust lifted by the gusts of wind is arranged into picturesque dunes.
Dunes on Mars can take many intricate shapes and forms. They are a frequent part of the Martian landscape, even though it is sometimes hardly possible to notice them from the ground. Dunes on Mars can be formed in valleys, as well as in craters and, what is interesting, they are stationary. Due to a thin atmosphere and low temperature, once formed Mars' dunes become hardened and remain their shape indifferent to further winds.
Dust Storms[ | ]
When it comes to weather on Mars, a sandstorm is an exceptionally peculiar phenomenon. It can occur simply as a single tornado, or it can change into a global-wide, long-lasting hurricane reaching up to thousands of kilolmeters in width. The latter phenomenon is a result of dust heating up, which causes the dust-filled air to raise, strengthening the storm in consequence. For all that, Martian dust storms are quite frequent and large-scale, with the top speed of 100 km/h, which is not necessarily deadly. What is more, given the thinness of Martian atmosphere, speed shouldn't be taken into account considering the danger of those winds. However, what should be allowed for, is the size of the dust particles, which are small and electrostatic. This means they can easily stick to surfaces they contact. This characteristic feature might greatly affect the efficiency of solar panels.
Dust Devils[ | ]
Tornadoes on Mars are also referred to as dust devils. Similarly to dust storms, they are being formed by raising dust-filled air when the surface is heated by the sunlight. Unlike a typical tornado, dust devils require good weather and can form unusual shapes due to Mars' tenuous atmosphere. The highest twister recorded by NASA's Reconnaissance Orbiter was about 20 km tall. Do keep in mind though, that just like in case of dust storms, those dust devils are not as dangerous as tornadoes on Earth.
Echus Montes[ | ]
It is a series of individual mountains or peaks forming a range that stretches for hundreds of kilometers. Despite being a range, the peaks are isolated and rise above the surrounding plains. The highest peaks can reach over 10 kilometers relative to the Martian reference frame. For comparison, Mount Evereste does not exceed 9 kilometers.
Elysium Planitia[ | ]
A plain of relatively uniform elevation. The smoothest region of Mars. In November 2018, NASA's InSight lander touched down in Elysium Planitia. The InSight mission focused on studying the interior of Mars and understanding the planet's seismology, heat flow, and geophysics. Research conducted in this area has revealed a significant presence of subsurface water ice.
Endeavour[ | ]
An impact crater with a diameter of 22 kilometers. In 2004, NASA's rover Opportunity landed in this location. It spent 14 years in this area. Observations made during this period revealed evidence of past environmental conditions conductive to the existence of liquid water.
Eos Chaos[ | ]
The name of this area refers to its chaotic terrain. It is characterized by a distinctive and complex network of mesas, buttes, canyons, and irregular blocks of fractured and disrupted terrain. This formation may have been caused by combination of processes such as subsurface material collapse, landslides, and errosion.
Gale[ | ]
A large impact crater with a diameter of 154 kilometers. In the center of the crater lies Aeolis Mons, a mountain rising approximately 5,5 kkilometers above the crater floor. It is often r eferred to as Mount Sharp. In 2012, the Curiosity rover landed here as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission.
Gusev[ | ]
One of the impact craters on the surface of the Red Planet. It has a diameter of 170 kilometers. In 2004, the NASA Mars rover Spirit landed here. This rover helped identify ancient lakes in this area. The crater itself contains a flat plain called "Columbia Hills".
Hills[ | ]
Many areas are created based on thte real hills found on Mars. While on Earth, we can easily notice changes happening to surrounding hills and mountains. The Red Planet lacks the flora we can find on Earth. which is why the scenery is much more monotonous, consisting mostly of rocks and dust.
Although hills aren't an extraordinary view on Mars, there's a special chain of hills which is mentioned during almost every Mars mission preparaion. Columbia Hills, named after astronauts of the Space Shuttle Columbia STS-107 mission, is located at Gusev Crater and it was a subject material for the analysis carried out be NASA's Spirit rover between 2004 and 20111. During that time scientists from Earth obtained many details about the elemental structure of Columbia Hills that are believed to be rich in sulphur and opaline silica. Presence of these, supports the theories that claim microbes were present on Mars some billions years ago.
Jezero[ | ]
An impact crater with ha diameter of 49 kilometers. The terrain formation in the shape of a delta at its western edge suggests that this crater contained a lake or a series of lakes in the past. As part of the NASA Mars 2020 mission, the Perseverance rover landed in this area in 2021.
Korolev[ | ]
A crater with a diameter of approximately 82 kilmeters. It is filled with ice that remains throughout the year. This is facilitated by the extremely low temperatures and its location in an area with low sunlight exposure. From a research perspective, this crater contains an easily accessible source of water ice.
Landscapes[ | ]
Using the data from the HiRISE instrument onboard the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter we were able to import some of the most well-known Mars locations into the game. You will be able to visit the summit of Olympus Mons, the Mariner Valley and many well-known craters such as Gale, Korolev, Endeavour, Jezero, Gusev and many other places. You'll need to explore and discover new locations in order to find precious minerals, water and other resources.
Lowell[ | ]
A crater with a diameter of 207 kilometers, featuring a flat bottom and steep walls. It is named after Persival Lowell, an American astronomer who founded the Lowell Observatory. The researcher was well-known for his observations and studies of Mars in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Melas Chasma[ | ]
A canyon measuring approximately 150 kilometers in length. It belongs to the Valles Marineris canyon system, which stretches for about 4,000 kilometers on the surface of Mars. Melas Chasma has steep cliffs, mesas, and layered rock formations. Its shape resembles a riverbed.
Mountains[ | ]
The surface and shape of the mountains in the game are close to the objects found on the real Mars. They serve as great viewing points. Olympus Mons is the highest mountain the whole Solar System.
Although Earth is a bigger planet than Mars, the Red Planet's mountains can be over twice as big as mountains on Earth. To understand how did Mars develop such big monuments of nature, it's necessary to study its volcanic activity. Both of the planets have center cores that eject lava. However, Mars does not have moving tectonic layer, which allowed the melted blob of rock to accumulate in a single spot instead of creating a chain of mountains as it happened on Earth. Olympus Mons which is considered to be the biggest elevation point on Mars, is nearly 22 km (13 miles) tall, whereas Earth's tallest mountains measure 7-8 km (4,9 miles) on average.
Nereidum Montes[ | ]
A mountain range consisting of a series of uneven, elongated mountain ridges and peaks. The range extends for several hundred kilometers above the surrounding terrain. The mountains exhibit diverse geological features, including valleys, slopes, and steep cliffs.
Newton[ | ]
A crater measuring approximately 300 kilometers. In 2011, images taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter suggested the presence of flowing water during the warmest month on Mars.
Noctis Fossae[ | ]
An area with a system of long parallel elongated channels. They stretch for hundreds of kilometers. The channels themselves can have a width of several kilometers and a depth of hundreds of meters. The shaping gof this terrain was most likely influenced by erosion and sedimentation processes.
Noctis Labyrinthus[ | ]
An extensive system of deep valleys and canyons measuring approximately 1200 kilometers. Its name is deived from the network of valleys, channels, and cliffs, resembling a labyrinth.
Plains[ | ]
Plains you can find in the game are the best place you can find for building and expanding your base. Smooth terrain of Vastitas Borealis takes over 40% of the whole planet and it's suspected that it's a result of a huge impact. This area can be found in the nothern hemisphere of the Red Planet.
Planet Mars[ | ]
Mars if often referred to as the Earth's twin. It is quite right since Mars shares with Earth many characteristic features on the geological level. This fact alone had allowed humans to consider colonization of Mars a possibility, long before it was technicallyl feasible. Although both planets have very much in common, they significantly differ in terms of atmosphere and weather conditions. There are many factors that affect this, and understanding them is an absolute necessity for safe exploration of Mars. Another interesting issue is Mars' color, which is widely thought to be red. Martian rocks and dust contain considerable amounts of iron which absorbs green and blue lightwaves when oxidized. This causes the planet to appear reddish, but the hue of Mars' soil is a little bit more brownish too, in fact. Due to the reddish hue of the Martian dust, the Red Planet has always been associated with war and blood; hence the name Mars, after a Roman god of war.
Rock Formations[ | ]
They are rock formations shaped by the natural climatic conditions present on Mars.
Rocks[ | ]
Rocks have been designed based on available data gathered from research conducted on Mars. In the game, you can find resources such as silicon, aluminium, calcium and uranium. Rocks serve as the basic ingredients for printing construction materials. You can use them to create cables, concrete, other building materials and soil crucial for cultivating crops in the greenhouse. Each one of these resources has their use.
Solar Storms[ | ]
Solar storms occur when the sun emits huge bursts of energy in the form of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These phenomena send a stream of electical charges and magnetic fields toward the Earth at a speed of about three million miles per hour. When a solar storm strikes the Earth, it often produces a dazzling northern lights display (aurora) in parts of the atmosphere that can be seen in areas close to the Arctic Circle. Solar storms can also disrupt satellites and various forms of electronic communications. Thin atmosphere of Mars does not protect the planet from UV radiation, and in case of a solar storm the level of radiation on the Red Planet might double. One of the dangers behind solar storms is a possibility that electric devices, especially wireless radio communications, might get damaged when hit by the magnetic field.
Terrain[ | ]
The terrain in the game is procedurally generated with many of theh real-life locations and known landing sites added to it.
While on Mars, you'll find yourself surrounded with impact craters, much like the ones found on the Moon and other planets from the Solar System. Other trademark characteristics include: volcanoes, valleys, canyons, desserts and polar ice caps. On the Red Planet's surface, rover wheels leave their marks on the ground. Player character also leaves their footprints wherever they go. Terrain shape is based on the real data. All these seemingly small details serve as a way to immerse the player in the game world.
Thunderstorms[ | ]
Scientists from Earth were almost sure that Martian dust storms should produce electric discharges. Despite the fact that many factors supported this theory, such phenomenon could not be observed for many years. In 2006, an especially designed detector installed on a 34-meter radio telescope finally registered lightning on Mars. Interestingly enough, lightning on Mars isn't a bolt, as on Earth. Scientists found out that Martian dust storms carry what appears to be an electric glow in the clouds. The presence of electric discharges on Mars is not a bad news since life is most likely to develop with lightning, than without it. However, this discovery made designers and engineers factor this phenomenon into the designs.
Weather Events[ | ]
These can be a serious threat to both the astronaut and their base. Bad conditions can damage buildings built by the player. Martian dust called regolith covers solar panels and glass, which has negative effect on certain functionalities necessary for survival. Recorded changes of weather conditions on Mars include: solar storm, sandstorm, tornado, dust devils, meteor shower, extreme drops in temperature during the nighttime.
Resources[ | ]
Aluminum[ | ]
Periodic symbol: Al
Atomic number: 13
Physical state: solid
Percentage content in the Mars crust: 8,1-10%
Aluminum is a lightweight, silvery metal. Due to its high chemical activity it never occurs in the metallic form in nature. Nevertheless, aluminum compounds are present in the vast majority of rocks, vegetation and animals. On Mars, aluminum constitutes roughly 10% of the planet's crust, and given the fact that extraction of this metal isn't particularly difficult, one can assume that aluminum is an essential part of any colonization scenario. Pure aluminum (99,996%) is rather soft and weak but with a slight addition of silicon or iron (99 to 96%) it becomes hard and strong. It is an invaluable resource for construction of solar panels and buildings on Mars.
Banned Food[ | ]
Although it might seem weird, certain food types that are considered absolutely acceptable on Earth, might be excluded from space missions for very prosaic reasons. Take bread, for instance. Bread crumbs in zero gravity can turn into an uncontrollable swarm that might lodge into electronic equipment causing damage beyond imagining. The same goes eewith seasons like salt and pepper. To overcome those challenges, scientists prepare special seasons in brines which hopefuly won't get out of control. Another dietary element that is forbidden on spacecrafts is soda. Bubbles in carbonated beverages in zero, or low gravity, might go directly through the digestive system instead of getting belched out.
Calcium[ | ]
Periodic symbol: Ca
Atomic number: 20
Physical state: solid
Percentage content in the Mars crust: 3,6%
For humans Calcium is extremely important, as it is the most abundant inorganic element in a human body. It is yet another element that does not occur in nature in its free form but Calcium compounds are quite common, nonetheless. When it comes to Mars, Calcium occurs in its crust in areas depleted from silica. This information was confirmed in 2012, when Curiosity rover analyzed light-toned veins on Martian rocks called Crest and Rapitan. Presence of this silvery-white metal on Mars is good news, since this delicate material can be used as a component for safety fuses and an ingredient of cement.
CO2[ | ]
CO2, carbon dioxide, is an inorganic chemical that constitutes 96% of Mars' atmosphere. It's a colorless, non-flammable gas weighting 150% mass of the Earth's air. Generally, CO2 isn't a harmful compound, as it is even a co-product of respiration and a part of photosynthesis. Yet, in large concentration it is a toxic and unbreathable chemical. Interestingly enough, Mars' temperatures, especially on the poles during winter-time, exceed CO2's freezing point. This phenomena creates beautiful dry-ice caps, which are often mistakenly perceived a snow. According to the scientists from Earth, carbon dioxide is a crucial factor in pressurizing the Red Planet's atmosphere, as a part of making Mars a human-habitable planet. Although research carried out by B. Jakosky and S. Edwards in 2019 suggests the amount of CO2 on Mars is definitely too little to make the Planet "human-friendly", Mars' carbon dioxide can still be used to create a higher pressure inside habs.
Food in Space[ | ]
While any journey is being planned, no matter whether terrestrial or extraterrestrial, food always raises some specific issues. Nutriition is a special subject matter as it's always followed by peculiar tastes, storage requirements, leftovers etc. Rationing for space missions has to be especially organized, with careful examination of food behaviour in zero or low gravity environment, as this aspect might cause some serious problems if not accounted for.
H2O[ | ]
On a chemical level, water is a result of organic elements combustion. Despite the fact that water's molecular formula, H2O, is extremely simple, its physical properties are exceptional and pivotal to all of the life known to humankind. According to the assumption that water equals life, scientists strived for years to confirm if there was any presence of water on Mars. Unfortunately, the temperatures on Mars vary from -155C to 20C, which together with low atmospheric pressure makes it virtually impossible for water to remain in its liquid form. Nevertheless, water can be also preserved in a form of ice and vapor. In 2016, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter discovered large amounts of ice beneath the polar areas of the planet. Even more interestingly, another device of the same Orbiter peered deeply into the south pole of Mars, where a large lake of salty water was found - 1.6 km beneath the planet's surface. Yet, the ultimate milestone that confirmed presence of water on Mars was the discovery of huge ice layers peering out of eroded cliffs, which proves the long-lasting theory about huge subsurface water deposits all over the planet.
Iron[ | ]
Periodic symbol: Fe
Atomic number: 26
Physical state: solid
Percentage content in the Mars crust: 5-14%
In the context of Mars, iron is an essential element, even though it is a lesser part of the planet's composition than, say, silicon. The reason behind iron's cruciality is the fact that it absorbs the blue and green wavelengths when oxidized, reflecting mostly the light spectrum of the red wavelengths, which is actually why Mars appears as a red planet. This is at least the physical explanation, because the chemical origins of oxidized iron's presence in Mars' crust remains a heated debate. One of the theories , conveived by a group of Danish scientists in 2009, claims that oxidation of Mars' iron is a result of dust storms activity. Iron oxide is a common mineral known to humanity for thousands of years in a form of ore material and red dye. Iron oxide that can be found in Mars' soil, crustt and dust occurs mostly in a form of hematite and olivine ores, which aren't the ready-to-use materials but thanks to the Grinder you can extract raw materials suitable for further use.
Methane[ | ]
Molecular formula: CH4
Methane is yet another key factor that affects life. Predominantly, methane is an organic chemical compound that is associated with life forms on Earth (also known as a "biosignature"). Scientists from Earth discovered miniscule traces of methane in Mars' atmosphere, which might suggest the presence of bacteria on the Red Planet. However, this assumption is extremely dubious given the tiny amounts and instability of Mars' methane. Moreover, according to Aarhus University's Mars Simulation Lab, wind erosion on Mars ionizes methane into other chemical compounds which eventually leads to the creation of toxic oxygen chemicals like peroxides. Presence of such chemicals minimizes any chances for Martian life existence close to or beneath the planet's surface. On the other hand, methane is also known as a "clean fuel". It generates energy in the form of heat when ignited through oxidative pyrolysis, with efficiency level higher than those of oil, gas or coal. Although Mars' atmosphere lacks methane, the Red Planet is abundant in other elements that can be used to obrain this precious fuel. Using the Sabatier process, you can combine carbon dioxide with hydrogen at elevated pressure and temperature, in the presence of Nickel catalyst, to start an exothermic reaction, which will leave you with methane and water.
Nitrogen[ | ]
Periodic symbol: N
Atomic number: 7
Physical state: gas
Percentage content in the Mars atmosphere: <2%
Nitrogen is a non-metal element that usually occurs in a form of gas. Its gaseous form consists of two atoms of Nitrogen (N2) bonded so strongly that it hardly reacts with other elements if not heated, or cooled, excessively. This characteristic feature grants Nitrogen negligible, or none, hazard level. In 2015, a team of scientists working with Curiosity's Sample Analysis of Mars instrument suite, discovered traces of nitric oxide on Mars. Such a discovery supports the theory that life on Mars did exist, as nitrogen is used in the building blocks of larger molecules like DNA and RNA, which encode the genetic instructions for life, and proteins, which are used to build structures like hair and nails, and to speed up or regulate chemical reactions. However, presence of Nitrogen on the planet's surface might be also a result of a meteorite hit, which is also taken into account. Biologically, nitrogen is also a fertilizer that is essential in the production of vegetables.
Oxygen Trees[ | ]
The Oxygen Tree is a result of breeding and cloning of Paulowina species. As the name suggests, Oxygen Trees are good at oxygen production, which is estimated to be ten times more effective in comparison to regular leaved trees. Another distinguishing characteristic of these trees is their fast and steady growth, which is 16/0.3 m* in 6 years on average. These trees are unpretentious, which allows them to grow in diverse soil types and various environmental conditions.
• 16 m in height, 30 cm in diameter (~52 ft h, 1 ft d)
Silicon[ | ]
Periodic symbol: Si
Atomic number: 14
Physical state: solid
Percentage content in the Mars crust: 28%
Silicon is the second most common chemical element on the Red Planet. It is a hard and brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic luster. Although pure silicon is too reactive to occur in nature alone, it can be easily found in Martian crust and rocks either with oxygen as silica (SiO2), or with oxygen and other elements (i. a. aluminum, sodium, potassium, iron). Silicon constitutes 28% of the Red Planet's crust. Such accumulation of silica requires heat and large amounts of water, which confirms the theory that water did exist on the surface of Mars.
The first samples that helped humans determine the composition of Mars' soil were extracted in Gale Crater by Curiosity rover sent to Mars by Nasa in 2012. Curiosity rover was equipped with ChemCam instrument (Chemistry and Camera), which ablated a piece of Martian soil with lasers giving the scientists a chance to deduce Red Planet's composition by analyzing the light emitted by laser ablation. You might consider it a prototypical Spectral Detector, but less handy. Most of the silicon-containing compounds are non-toxic (human tissue usually contains 6-90 mg of silica per 100 g dry weight), and in fact many lower forms of carbon based life may assimilate silica for their structural formation. However, inhalation of SiO2 is highly dangerous and leads to severe lung disease called silicosis.
Uranium[ | ]
Periodic symbol: U
Atomic number: 92
Physical state: solid
Percentage content in the Mars crust: 8,1%
Ever since J. R. Oppenheimer created the nuclear bomb, Uranium has become "the" element. As much as its history includes many shameful chapters, it is undoubtedly one of the most promising resource that humankind managed to harness. It's all thanks to Uranium fission, a radioactive decay of an atom, which generates enormous amounts of heat. In other words, it's a great source of energy. It was in 1960s that NASA started its System for Nuclear Auxiliary Power (SNAP), which resulted in the first nuclear power plant operating in space. SNAP program established the technology that was later used in various space missions, including Curiosity that was powered by radioisotope reactors (RTG). However, nuclear power plants' catastrophes had stymied fission development for years. It was only in 2014 that NASA started a nuclear fission Game Changing Program. In 3 years, the scientists from NASA developed the project called Kilpower, which is a nuclear fission power plant for planetary surface use, which is supposed to help human and robotary space explorers sustain their energy needs.
Tools[ | ]
Air Compressor[ | ]
The Air Compressor is used to spray compressed CO2. It can be used to clean up dust from solar panels, vehicles, and buildings. It uses replaceable pressurized CO2 tanks. This tool is very useful especially after the sandstorm or tornado. Thanks to it you can quickly clean up your solar panels to restore power.
Backpack[ | ]
Basic equipment for an astronaut taking part in a mission to Mars. It contains the player's inventory and LED lights which visually indicate the status of thet Astronaut's parameters, such as oxygen, stamina, hunger and hydration levels. In the third-person camera view, flashing in different colors informs the player of new mission information (blue), an impending threat from weather conditions (yellow) or critical alerts (red).
Blowtorch[ | ]
Blowtorch is a tool you can use for building and repairing constructions. It provides a way to cut and weld together metal parts while operating in vacuum. This tool is upgradeable.
Basic Blowtorch is yellow, the upgraded one is orange and the best one is painted red. With each upgrade the tool works faster allowing you to construct buildings more quickly.
Be careful! While operating the Blowtorch avoid putting it in contact with flammable objects or gases as it may end up with a fire or explosion. Repairing pressurized gas tanks is strictly forbiddenn.
Circuit Box[ | ]
A container designed for storing circuit boards. Due to the fact that fieldwork is exposed to various weather conditions, including sandstorms that lift patches of regolith into the air, the storage containers have been equipped with closures resistant to such contaminants.
Detonator[ | ]
Detonator is a tool for remotely detonating various explosives.
Many things can explode in the game. You can make solid or liquid rocket fuel.
The solid rocket fuel can be used as dynamite if deployed separately.
If you assemble a small sounding rocket the detonator can be used to launch it. Just make sure you won't stay too close to the explosion!
Grinder[ | ]
The Grinder is a handy disassembly tool. Use it to take apart structures and recover resources.
There are 3 levels of upgrades, each of them allows to grind buildings faster and recover more resources from them.
Remember not to grind parts connected to electricity as you may get electrocuted. Also watch out for gas containers - they might blow up!
Heavy Suit[ | ]
The Heavy Suit is a modern, airtight construction that provides protection to humans in low-pressure and vacuum conditions. It stands out from a regular suit with more battery slots, a reinforced structure for carrying heavy materials without any penalties, and increased resistance to harmful radiation. This suit is better at interpreting signals sent by the astronaut, resulting in an increased sprinting speed.
Helmet[ | ]
Keeps the right air pressure inside your suit. Remember to always wear it outside. The helmet is the most advanced part of the outfit, equipped with a HUD and voice AI assistant.
Inventory Box[ | ]
Simple crate useful for storing various items used in bases scattered throughout Mars.
Jackhammer[ | ]
The Jackhammer also known as Heavy Drill is a handheld drilling and mining tool. It's useful for breaking up rocks into smaller pieces before collecting them or loading them onth the back of the Truck.
There are 3 levels of upgrades, each of them has a different color and allows to drill rocks faster.
Jetpack[ | ]
Fly and explore the planet from a whole different angle!
The fastest means of transport available on Mars, unlocking this projejct requires extensive knowledge in many technologies. Due to the delicate, ultralight components, Jetpacks could not be manufactured and transported from Earth, so the project involves printing the set yourself and assembling all the equipment on the Red Planet.
Due to lower gravity on Mars (about 38% of Earth's gravity) the Jetpack is the fastest vehicle for long-distance travel on Mars.
The wings are storage tanks for Fuel and Oxidizer. Jetpack can be unlocked at the end of the Tech Tree.
Like the backpack, the jetpack has LEDs indicating fuel and oxidizer levels to ensure there is enough fuel to land. Warning: falling from altitude or flying at high speed towards the ground risks injury or death.
Pipes[ | ]
Pipes are used to transfer rvarious substances in liquid or gas state. All the pipes are heavily insulated and heated to that the substance inside of it won't freeze. They are very strong and flexible allowing to transfer high-pressure substances over long distance. The pipes will change color depending on what's inside them. Green pipe is used to transfer oxygen, blue is for water and red for methane gas.
Repair Kit[ | ]
Repair kit adapted to Martian conditions. It can be used to repair an astronaut's helmet. It is also perfect for repairing and recharging tools.
Seed Tool[ | ]
Planting seeds is one of the most important skills required to survive on another planet. With this tool you can plant many different seeds in a fast and reliable way.
Thanks to exchangeable seed magazines and ergonomic grip not a single seed will be wasted. This tool is most commonly used in greenhouses or near seed incubators, which are the first steps of plant growth on Mars.
Spacesuit[ | ]
The A-12 Spacesuit is a modern skin-tight design providing human protection in low-pressure and vacuum environments.
The suit also provides heating and radiation protection thanks to electromagnetic fields generated by an on-board battery.
The Spacesuit consists of helmet, boots, gloves, trousers and a jacket. The helmet is the most advanced part of the outfit, equipped with a HUD and voice AI assistant.
The suit is designed using elastic materials and polymers for stretch and nickel-titanium coils that pressurize, heat and protect the suit thanks to onboard battery power.
The design allows for personalization to easily distinguish different teams on the field.
It's equipped with RGB LED bars which can change color depending on the assigned group of astronauts. They also provide customizable arm patches.
Spectral Detector[ | ]
Spectral Detector is a tool which you can use to analyze the chemical composition of rocks. You can also use it to locate underground water reservoirs and resource-rich spots in the ground. There are 3 levels of upgrades, each of them has a different color and bigger range.
Tablet[ | ]
The main source of information about astronaut's health, his mission, items inventory, acquired blueprints and unlocked technologies. It also allows for communication with other astronauts, robots and buildings (when player is within range).
Allows to browse the player's inventory and knowledge base, as well as mark points of interest on the surrounding terrain and the trail to the water source on the radar.
Vehicles[ | ]
ATV Quad[ | ]
Electric ATV is a great versatile vehicle for driving short distances around the base. The Quad fits 2 small storage crates on the rear rack.
It can additionally be equipped with a rocket booster for faster reconnaissance missions. However, watch out for the batteries as they can quickly run out of energy. Furthermore, the quad bike isn't as robust as the rover, so be gentle with it, inless you want to tinker with circuit boards.
Compared to Motocross the ATV has storage space (up to 2 crates in the back). It also has more range + an optional upgrade which adds Rocket Engine for super fast acceleration!
Harvester[ | ]
The Harvester - also called the "Drone Rover" is an autonnomous version of the Heavy Rover. In the future it will allow players to automate the resource retrieving process by automatically driving between the crusher and the rocks. The Harvesters will locate special resource-rich spots, mine them autonomously and go back to the crusher with the retrieved resources.
They could also transport cargo from the stationary Resource Extractors into the Crushers.
Heavy Rover[ | ]
HHeavy Rover is not merely a vehicle, but also a shelter. It's a mobile home ideal for long-term expeditions. Equipped with a robotic arm with interchangeable tips it can drill and grab large rocks or weld large buildings. It comes with a storage, bed, oxygen bottles and its own supply of energy. Inside, you can also find a socket, which you can use to chharge your suit. You can safely take off your helmet inside a rover - provided you close the door first. The Heavy Rover also has a trailer bed capable of hauling storage as well as dumpers into which processed ores can be dropped using a grapple.
With the right configuration, you can remotely control the vehicle. All replaceable elements are mounted on the mechanical arm.
Heavy Rover has two cameras and lights you can set up to your liking. Just keep in mind that powerful lights will drain the power more quickly.
Ingenuity[ | ]
Mars Helicopter known from the Mars Perseverance Mission. The Drone is equipped with a camera. Inside, it stores a circuit board, which can be destroyed - if that happens, it will require a repair. To use the drone, it needs to be assigned to a hot key.
After placing it on the ground, you only need a Remote Controller which allows you to control the helicopter. It has a solar panel so it's self-charging.
After finished flight you need to hide Ingenuity in your inventory.
The Ingenuity Helicopter has proven to be working extremely well in the thin Martian atmosphere. It was designed to last for a month and it's still operational after almost 2 years and 40 flights!
ITS[ | ]
Interplanetary Transport System (ITS) is the name of the main transporter rocket used to colonize Mars.
The default version has 9 floors. The bottom one is a cargo gloor which accts as additional layer of separation between the crew and the fuel tanks.
Next there are 5 floors with Crew quarters and bathrooms, above which there's a Cantina (common area) floor.
Above it there are 2 floors with seats and spacesuits used for launch & landing procedures.
ITS Rocket Layout[ | ]
There are 9 usable floors 5 of which are dedicated to living quarters.
There are up to five 2-bed rooms on each floor for a total of 50 colonists who can travel inside at the same time during one mission.
The rooms inside ITS are designed in a way which ensures comfortable living conditions during the half-year-long transfer time between planets.
The bottom floor is cargo storage which acts as additional layer of separation between the crew and the fuel/oxidizer tabks.
Next there are 5 floors with Crew quarters and bathrooms, above which there's a Cantina (common area) floor. There's also a bathroom on each floor.
The top floors are full of seats used by the whole crew for launch & landing procedures. The top floor is the bridge of the rocket from which it's possible to control it (even though most of the flight is automated).
Mars Truck[ | ]
Sturdy and reliable pick-up truck for field trips with decent cargo space. Inside it has seats for 3 astronauts as well as one robot dog. It can haul mined rocks or the ATC Quad on the flatbed trunk. It's faster than the Heavy Rover and seats more people, but isn't equipped with the robotic arm and has smaller cargo space.
Motocross[ | ]
A small electric motocross is a fun alternative to starndard Martian ATV Quad as a fast and reliable means of transport on short distances.
Compared to other vehicles - it has no storage space and the battery can't be easily replaced.
The range is quite short which limits your exploration ability, but it's a great vehicle for fun adventures as well as for quick traveling on short distances around the base.
Due to lower gravity on Mars (about 38% of Earth's gravity) the Motocross will jump much higher and ride much faster than on Earth allowing for some crazy stunts!
Orbital Rocket Booster[ | ]
The Orbital Rocket Booster is a smaller manned rocket used to reach an orbit around the planet or to travel parabolically to different locations on Mars.
On top of the Booster there's a standard Arktur Landing Capsule attached which seats 3 people and has storage for only the most basic equipment. It also has a nose cone on top which hides a port adapter for orbital docking. The Booster fits the standard ITS Launchpad elevator size.
Robot Dog[ | ]
His name is Spotty and he's a robotic companion who will help you during your journey on Mars. It can dig resources for you, bring your stuff and finally, it is good not to be completely alone, right?
It needs to be recharged from time to time, once the right command is given it can connect to the energy source on its own.
Once it is constructed, enabled and operational it can be controlled using player's PDA.
Spotty is equipped with robotic arm which allows him to pickup objects or express his emotions. He's still learning to navigate Martian environment using Machine Learning algorithms so at first he may only be able to do basic tasks, but he will learn quickly and will become more and more useful in the future updates.
Oh, and yes - you can pet him!
Rockets[ | ]
The missile shield has been designed as a means of protection from meteor showers. System automatically detects a meteor that poses a threat to your base and launches a missile in the correct direction. Astronaut only needs to worry about providing the launcher with supply of rockets - otherwise, the machine won't be able to fulfill its role. The easiest way to control the state of the ammunition is to check it from the control panel, where you can find information about the power status, the number of remaining rockets and the number of meteors that have been shot down.
Rovers[ | ]
On Mars, you can find historical vehicles such as Oppy and Curiosity. The rover you have is essential for efficient work in the field.
Trailers[ | ]
Trailers serve as extensions to the Heavy Rover. They can be used to store water, containers or minerals. They're of compact size and can be store inside the Big Shredder, which also allows to print these trailers. The aforementioned container and the tip of the robotic arm equipped with a welder allows to create buildings using the Rover. Trailers are a huge help when it comes to expansion on Mars.