Instruments & orbit
Orbit slots & instrument choices
Plan orbit slots for satellites and learn how Telescope, Radar, Aegis and Veil differ from orbital equipment.
How it works
Telescope, Radar, Aegis and Veil are instruments on your planet. Each has upgrade levels and uses no orbit slot. Satellites use orbit slots; you can install one of each type on a planet, with no satellite upgrades.
The local Command Core opens orbit slots. Uplink uses one slot to enable Telescope and Radar. Foundry improves production, Derrick improves Prospectors and Beacon speeds up the fleet missions listed on its page.
Your next decision
Decide which action needs improving on this planet. With few slots, installing Uplink for intelligence can delay installing a production or mining bonus. Raise the Core when you need another slot.
Read each satellite’s scope before buying it. Derrick does not enlarge raid cargo. Beacon does not increase combat power. Uplink alone supplies neither Telescope observations nor Radar warnings.