Space Navigation
As a Salvage Specialist, Station Engineer or Atmospheric Technician you may be expected to go out into space. This guide steps through some tips on how to navigate and survive space. Be sure to bring along suggested equipment if you hope to stand a chance.
Preparation
Before you leave the station, be sure to check you have all the required equipment adequate inventory space and understand what to do if you encounter aggressive space fauna, hostile sentients or lose your navigation.
Here is an example checklist:
- Check your breathable gas tank is full. Oxygen for most species but Nitrogen for Slimes/Vox.
- Check you have a Hardsuit and helmet equipped (Gas Mask/Breathing Mask is optional).
- Check that your Jetpack is full or that you have adequate Fire Extinguishers / items to throw.
- Memorise the GPS coordinates of the station and bring a GPS if you plan to break line of sight with the station at any point.
Salvage Specialists should generally take additional steps:
- Check that you have adequate inventory space for loot
- Check that you have a weapon for fighting hostiles
- Check that you have a Pickaxe/Ore Bag if you're planning to mine.
- Notify Cargo that you are going out (so that they hopefully don't run into you in a Shuttle)
Jetpack Propulsion
Non-mini jetpacks can only be worn in the backpack slot. In exchange for the storage space of a backpack, jetpacks offer excellent mobility, allowing the Salvager to easily drag items back to the station. However, this lack of storage space makes it much more important to decide what you'll bring with you in your pockets.
Fire Extinguisher & Friends
If you're not using a Jetpack, you're likely combining multiple methods of transport. In exchange for keeping your backpack, you're limited to less-effective modes of transport. Fire extinguishers use liquid to propel you in the opposite direction of where you click. Throwing an item (even a single sheet split from a stack) also propels you in the opposite direction that you throw it. Note that some items stack whilst maintaining their weight. Carrying a few stacks of something (e.g. metal rods) can be useful.
Position
Knowing where you are in space is crucial to your sanity and possibly your survival. When you start, north will be up. You can change what direction north is with your keyboard (default is numpad 7 & 9) and you can reorient to the grid's default orientation with numpad 8. However some events will spin your interface so that north is no longer up. For example, if a shuttle hits your wreckage or the wreckage disappears, you may spin.
If you get lost
1. Find out your location
If you are carrying a GPS, hold it in your hand to show yourself the current coordinates. If you do not have a GPS, first, open your Inventory (I), right click on your jumpsuit and turn the sensors to coordinates. If coordinates is greyed out it is already active. Your suit sensor will show other crew your GPS location via Monitoring computers or Handheld Crew Monitor devices. Note that typically only Command Crew such as the CMO or Captain will be able to access Crew Monitoring computers but anyone with a Protolathe can craft a handheld device.
2. Find the station location
Ask the crew where the base is. Anyone with a GPS, Handheld Crew Monitor device or Crew Monitoring computer will be able to tell you what their location is (assuming they are on the station)
3. Move towards the station
When you know your location and the station location, you can then use propulsion (if you have any items or a jetpack) to move yourself towards the station. DO NOT assume that up is north as your screen may have been rotated. If you do not have a GPS with you, start slow and check with the crew that you are going the right way. Remind them that a negative number is different to a positive number when it comes to coordinates.
If you have no propulsion ability, ask for a shuttle to come pick you up or for an atmos / salvage crew member to save you. After asking for this, please hold your position and ensure you have supplied the correct coordinates (remembering that negative numbers are different to positive numbers).
- DO NOT assume that up is north
- You can change your screen so that north is up by using the keypad 7 & 9. However, you first need to know which way is north.
- The y coordinate is north and south. i.e. (x,y)
- The x coordinate is west and east. i.e. (x,y)
- Thus, if you are (100,0) and the station is (0,0), you need to go west by 100 units (left if up is north).
