SpaceCraft can feel overwhelming during your first few hours. The game throws mining, ship building, automation, exploration, research, base construction, logistics, and resource management at you almost immediately. Many new players make costly mistakes such as selling valuable resources too early, building inefficient ships, placing bases in bad locations, or getting stranded without power in deep space.
After spending dozens of hours exploring planets, building production chains, and progressing through the technology tree, I’ve learned that the early game becomes much smoother when you understand a few important systems from the start. This SpaceCraft Beginner Guide covers everything a beginner should know before leaving their first sector.
SpaceCraft Beginner Guide Wiki – Encyclopedia and Map and Map
One of the first things every new player should learn is how useful the Encyclopedia is.
Press O to open it.
As you discover new resources, planets, minerals, deposits, technologies, and structures, information is automatically added. Many players ignore this menu and end up confused about where to find resources or how certain materials are crafted.
The Encyclopedia contains:
- Resource information
- Mining requirements
- Processing recipes
- Planet data
- Technology details
- Resource tiers
Whenever you are unsure where something comes from, check the Encyclopedia first.
The map is equally important.
Press M to open it.
Once you’ve discovered resources, stations, deposits, landmarks, and points of interest, they become visible on your map.
When a planet reaches 100% exploration, the map begins displaying the amount of each resource available on that world. This makes future farming trips significantly easier because you know exactly where to return for specific materials.
The more you explore, the more valuable your map becomes.
Power Management and Planet Shadows
One of the most common beginner mistakes is flying into the dark side of a planet without preparation.
Your ship relies primarily on solar power.
When sunlight disappears, your solar panels stop generating energy.
That means:
- Batteries stop charging
- Engines consume stored power
- Mining becomes difficult
- Shields stop functioning
- Systems eventually shut down
If your battery reaches zero, don’t panic.
Every ship includes an emergency engine that operates at roughly twenty percent power. It isn’t fast, but it allows you to slowly move back into sunlight.
Usually the safest solution is simply flying upward until you leave the atmosphere and regain access to sunlight.
Later in the game, dark-side exploration becomes much easier thanks to:
- Larger batteries
- Better engines
- Fuel generators
- Improved ship efficiency
Until then, stay on the illuminated side whenever possible.
Resource Selling and Credit Management
Many beginners make the mistake of selling every valuable item they find.
This is usually a bad idea.
Rare resources such as Quartz, crystals, and special minerals are often required for research, advanced crafting, and future upgrades.
A resource might look valuable when viewed through its credit value, but its crafting value is usually far greater.
Instead, focus on selling resources that can be gathered in large quantities.
Good examples include:
- Iron
- Copper
- Aluminum
- Common ores
These resources are easy to replace and provide a steady income source.
Once you establish your own base, manufacturing becomes significantly more profitable because you avoid station crafting taxes.
Keep in mind that stations also have daily sell limits. If you reach the cap, you’ll need to wait for it to refresh or use player trading systems later in the game.
Mining Lasers and Resource Tiers
The first laser you’ll use is fairly basic.
Many players immediately upgrade to the Overclocked Mining Laser because it appears stronger.
However, there is a major drawback.
Overclocked lasers have durability.
Once that durability reaches zero, the laser is permanently destroyed.
Simple Mining Lasers do not have this problem.
For most early-game mining, the Simple Mining Laser remains the better option.
As resource quality increases, you’ll eventually need stronger lasers.
Mining colors tell you whether your laser is strong enough:
Red
Your laser cannot mine the resource.
Yellow
Your laser can mine it, but very slowly.
White
Your laser is operating at full effectiveness.
A useful strategy is carrying multiple lasers.
Use the Simple Laser for everyday mining and only switch to an Overclocked Laser when mining higher-tier resources.
This saves durability and reduces replacement costs.
Refueling and Ship Repairs
Repairs and refueling can only be performed at civilian space stations.
Your personal base cannot repair ships.
Because of this, you should always keep enough fuel available for the return journey.
Running out of fuel is one of the easiest ways to lose progress.
If you become stranded, your only option may be respawning, which damages your ship and can cause inventory loss.
As your ship grows, fuel management becomes increasingly important.
Larger fuel tanks and efficient FTL drives eventually become essential for long-distance exploration.
Resource Tracking
Sometimes you’ll notice an item permanently displayed in the upper-right corner of the screen.
This happens because the item was accidentally tracked.
Tracking allows you to monitor resource collection progress while gathering materials.
To remove a tracked item:
- Open the Encyclopedia
- Locate the tracked resource
- Find the white marker
- Right-click it
The tracked resource will immediately disappear from your HUD.
This feature becomes extremely useful later when collecting large quantities of crafting materials.
Ship Modules and Customization
Eventually you’ll begin modifying your ship.
Ship editing becomes available through stations and personal shipyards.
Before making changes, you must load your current ship.
Modules are divided into two categories:
Internal Modules
Installed inside the hull.
Examples include:
- Batteries
- Cargo modules
- Utility systems
External Modules
Mounted outside the ship.
Examples include:
- Mining lasers
- Resource detectors
- Various external equipment
Always remember to confirm changes after editing.
Many new players spend time modifying their ship only to forget the confirmation button.
System Support and Ship Expansion
Every module consumes System Support points.
Think of System Support as your ship’s capacity limit.
Adding more modules eventually requires expanding the hull.
Hull pieces provide:
- Additional module slots
- Additional support capacity
- Larger ship designs
However, every hull section adds weight.
More weight requires stronger engines.
Ship design becomes a balancing act between power generation, weight, storage, and performance.
A common beginner mistake is installing powerful engines without sufficient support systems.
Adding a thruster isn’t enough.
You also need:
- Solar panels
- Batteries
- Additional support capacity
Without supporting infrastructure, performance suffers dramatically.
Heat and Temperature Management
Temperature becomes a major issue later in the game.
Ships can overheat or freeze depending on location and equipment.
Common causes include:
- Flying too close to stars
- Extreme planetary environments
- Continuous boosting
- Excessive mining
- Poor ship efficiency
- System Support overload
Temperatures above 190°C become dangerous.
Temperatures below -30°C are equally problematic.
Radiators help reduce heat, but they are not magical solutions.
If overheating comes from an overloaded ship, expanding the hull is usually the correct fix.
Cargo Expansion
Cargo space always feels too small.
No matter how much storage you install, you’ll eventually want more.
For early progression:
Aim for approximately:
- 300 SU storage initially
- 1000 SU storage after unlocking medium modules
Flying while overloaded drastically reduces speed.
If your ship becomes overloaded, consider discarding low-value materials rather than struggling through long return trips.
Batteries and Energy Production
Every major ship system requires power.
This includes:
- Engines
- Mining lasers
- Boosters
- Detectors
- Shields
Solar panels generate energy.
Batteries store it.
Many beginners focus entirely on storage capacity while ignoring generation.
Power generation is usually more important than storage.
A ship with huge batteries but weak solar panels still struggles.
Adding a Flywheel Battery early provides a significant quality-of-life improvement and should be one of your first upgrades.
Establishing Your First Base
Your first base is one of the biggest milestones in SpaceCraft.
The mission system eventually rewards your first Base Core.
Avoid purchasing one early.
Instead, use the free version from the questline.
When selecting a location, prioritize deposits.
Good combinations include:
- Iron and Copper
- Copper and Aluminum
Avoid building near:
- Sandstone
- Coal
These resources are easy to gather manually and provide limited long-term value.
Position your base so multiple deposits fall within the building radius.
This dramatically improves production efficiency.
Automation and Drones
Automation is where SpaceCraft truly opens up.
Extractors gather resources automatically.
Smelters process materials automatically.
Drones move items automatically.
Without drones, production chains quickly become inefficient.
Every extractor should eventually have delivery routes assigned.
Warehouses often serve as storage buffers.
Drone Dispatchers become valuable later because they help split and merge logistics networks without consuming excessive drone slots.
A well-designed drone network can support massive automated production systems with minimal player involvement.
Science Research Progression
Science unlocks some of the most important technologies in the game.
Research occurs through the laboratory at Syracuse Station.
Resources submitted for research grant Science XP and unlock recipes.
Many players accidentally slow their progression by selling rare crystals.
This becomes a problem because crystals are often required for research tiers.
Always keep at least a small reserve of valuable materials.
Research unlocks many important technologies that cannot be obtained elsewhere.
Technology Progression
Tech XP comes primarily from automation.
Every functioning extractor, smelter, assembler, and production building contributes toward Tech progression.
Important milestones include:
Level 1
- Command Tower
Level 2
- Construction Tool 2.0
- Additional bases
Level 4
- Construction Tool 3.0
- Shuttles
Level 5
- Third personal base
Tech progression is slower than most other progression systems, making automation extremely important.
Exploration Progression
Exploration XP unlocks many important upgrades.
Examples include:
- Better FTL drives
- Larger fuel tanks
- Advanced detectors
- Improved cockpits
You gain Exploration XP by:
- Discovering resources
- Revealing planets
- Scanning Gravite objects
- Exploring landmarks
Fully exploring planets should become part of your regular routine.
The rewards are often worth the effort.
Wreck Hunting and Hidden Loot
Wrecks can contain some of the game’s most valuable rewards.
They appear randomly throughout the universe.
Resource Detectors help locate them.
After landing nearby, you can collect loose items and dismantle hull sections for additional loot.
Some wrecks contain:
- Rare resources
- Valuable modules
- Unique blueprints
- Special equipment
Many advanced recipes originate from wreck exploration.
Asteroid Fields
Asteroid fields are significantly more dangerous than planets.
Threats include:
- Physical debris
- Constant collisions
- Lack of sunlight
- Power shortages
Without shields and proper preparation, asteroid exploration becomes extremely dangerous.
However, unique resources often justify the risk.
Shuttle Logistics
Once multiple bases exist, transportation becomes a major challenge.
Shuttles solve this problem.
They automatically move resources between bases, even across sectors.
A properly designed shuttle network can support complex industrial operations without requiring manual hauling.
Liquid Collection
Certain technologies require liquid resources such as Sulphuric Acid.
Collecting liquids requires:
- Hose Pumps
- Liquid Tanks
Once collected, liquids must be transferred into storage facilities.
Liquid logistics eventually become another important part of industrial production.
Scrap and Recycling
Early in the game, scrap serves little purpose.
Selling it is usually the best option.
Later, after unlocking the Recycler, scrap becomes much more useful because it can be processed into valuable materials.
Until then, treat it as a source of credits.
Recommended Early Progression Path
Before leaving your starter sector, try to obtain:
- FTL ECO Drive
- Three Small Cargo Modules
- Simple Mining Laser
- Simple Resource Detector
These upgrades dramatically improve resource gathering and exploration efficiency.
Most importantly, don’t rush progression.
SpaceCraft rewards preparation, planning, and gradual expansion. Players who take time to build strong foundations often progress much faster than those who immediately chase advanced technologies. Your first ship, first base, and first automated production line will teach you systems that remain important throughout the entire game, making the early hours some of the most valuable time you’ll spend in SpaceCraft.