An example of an unfinished base on the Moon
A surface base or outpost is a project similar to a space station, but on the surface of a planet or a moon. It can be mainly used for colonising a planet/moon. They can be used to research a celestial body's surface with more detail, or can be used as a refueling station or outpost.
Design[]
A surface base is usually made out of these components, but can contain more than just these examples:
- A habitation module(s)
- An energy source (e.g. solar farm, nuclear reactor, etc.)
- A launch pad, a landing pad for crew can cargo resupplies.
- Other buildings, such as a Mission Control Center or Communication Center.
Bases can also be in many shapes and sizes, but are usually restricted by lag or capability of the player.
Construction[]
Surface bases are normally launched in pieces, but in rare cases can be launched in whole. Landing modules and components can be the hardest part of building a surface base, especially when constructing one on a planet/moon with an atmosphere. Skycranes and rovers can help transport or soft land modules on a planet/moon's surface, though there are many other options.
Location[]
The location of a surface base can be helpful for certain missions.
Mercury[]
A small base on Mercury, can help refuel rockets, that will return back to Earth.
Venus[]
A base on Venus may be difficult for new players to construct, and land at, but it can still be a helpful asset to a player's world.
Moon[]
A lunar base can come in handy, for when one requires more fuel for a mission. This base can also serve as a place to test rovers, among other possibilities.
Mars[]
Mars is easier to land on the Venus, so having a surface base on Mars could be easier to build than one on Venus. A Mars base can also refuel a rocket heading to the outer solar system.
Mars's Moons[]
The Martian moons are a great place to set up a base. Because of there small size and low gravity, strategically landing at at a specific location is very easy.
Jupiter's Moons[]
The Jovian moons can also be a great place for bases.
Io[]
Due to the high gravity, and expensive orbit insertion, as well as, the jagged terrain, a base may be difficult to set upon Io.
Europa[]
Like Io, Europa takes lots of fuel to reach orbit, but unlike Io, its terrain is relatively flat, and this can help players land and build a base easily, without worrying about a rocket tipping over.
Ganymede[]
Ganymede is larger than Mercury and Mars, so naturally its orbit insertion is expensive and its gravity is decently strong. Overall not a bad place for a base.
Callisto[]
A base on Callisto would be relatively easy to construct, due to its low gravity, but its terrain has more craters and is jagged like Io, not bad of a location.
Tips[]
- For less experienced players, it is advised to launch several of the same module, in case some of them break on the way to the destination, or take regular quicksaves (especially before deorbiting for landing).
- If you are not good with precision landings, adding wheels to your base pieces will allow you to move distanced parts together.
- YouTube and the SFS forum are great places to get inspiration for your bases.