Asteroids & mining

How it works

A Prospector flies to the predicted meeting point of a moving asteroid. It takes the resources remaining on arrival and returns. Other commanders can arrive first and take them. Discovery does not reserve an asteroid or its resources.

Ordinary asteroids contain alloy and crystal. Isotope Spectrometry opens deuterium mining from isotope asteroids. Prospectors can also collect resources from revealed debris fields left by battles.

Mining capacity uses Prospector Holds research and the origin’s Derrick. Ordinary Cargo Holds does not affect Prospectors. A loaded return is slower than an empty return. If an asteroid is emptied before you arrive, your inbound craft turn home.

Your next decision

Choose the craft count against remaining resources, hold capacity and a free flight bay. More capacity only helps if resources remain when you arrive. Include both legs when comparing missions.

You can recall an outbound mining mission. Returning resources enter the Works within its capacity and must be collected before spending. Make room before several loads return. Very short trips can require a cooldown before the craft fly again.

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