Player Guide: Designing Satellite Prototypes
The game includes a set of built-in satellite designs, but you can also design your own. A satellite prototype is a blueprint that defines a satellite's size, abilities, and cost. Once you have a prototype you can build physical copies of it, launch them into orbit, and earn revenue — or offer the prototype as a requirement in a contract you post for auction.
1. Opening the Satellite Designer
Click My Satellites in the top navigation bar to see your prototype list, then click Design New Satellite.
2. Creating a New Prototype
The design form has three sections: basic information, abilities, and a live summary panel.
Satellite Name
Give the prototype a unique name. This name appears in your satellite list, on the Turn page, and in any contract that references this prototype. Choose something descriptive — other players may see it if you put it in a contract.
Satellite Size
Size is the most important design decision. It controls two things:
| Size | Size Factor Limit | Base Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tiny | 1 – 5 | $2M |
| Small | 6 – 15 | $4M |
| Medium | 16 – 30 | $7M |
| Large | 31 – 50 | $20M |
| Huge | 51 – 100 | $35M |
The Size Factor Limit is the maximum total size factor of all abilities you can add. Each ability has its own size factor — the more capable the ability, the more size it consumes. A larger satellite can carry more and more powerful abilities, but it also requires a bigger rocket to launch (see the launch capability table in How to Play).
Description
An optional free-text field. Use it to describe what the satellite does or what contracts it is designed for. This shows in the satellite detail view — useful when you are managing multiple prototypes or explaining a contract requirement to potential bidders.
Abilities
Abilities are what make your satellite valuable. Each ability:
- Has a size factor that consumes part of your satellite's capacity.
- Has a cost that adds to the total build price.
- May have a minimum orbit requirement — the ability only operates at that orbit or higher. A communication satellite ability marked "Min Orbit: GEO" only earns revenue when the satellite is in GEO or above.
The summary panel on the right tracks your running total size factor and cost as you check abilities. A green progress bar means you are within limits; it turns yellow as you approach the limit and red if you exceed it. You can save an over-limit prototype, but you should redesign it before trying to build it.
The total build cost = base cost + sum of all ability costs. This is what you pay each time you build a physical copy from this prototype.
Saving the Prototype
Click Create Satellite Prototype. The prototype is saved to your account and appears in your satellite list.
3. Editing a Prototype
From the My Satellites page, click Edit next to any prototype to change its name, description, size, or ability selection. You can update a prototype at any time as long as it has not been committed to a contract. Changes apply to future builds only — physical satellites already in orbit are not affected.
4. What Can You Do With a Prototype?
Build and Launch It
Once a prototype exists, it appears as a buildable option on the Turn page (under "Possible Actions You Could Take"). Select it to build a physical satellite. On a subsequent turn, pair the satellite with an appropriate rocket and select Launch. The satellite goes into orbit and, if you hold a matching contract, starts generating revenue.
Add It to a Contract
You can create a player-designed contract that requires the winner to build and operate your satellite prototype. Go to Design Contracts in the nav bar, create or select a contract, and put it up for auction. The winning bidder must then build and deploy the prototype to fulfill the contract.
This is how you use the satellite designer as a contract designer: you define a mission profile (the satellite and its abilities), post a contract with a reward, and let other players compete to fulfill it.
5. The Key Advantage of Custom Prototypes
The built-in satellites cover common mission profiles, but they are fixed. Custom prototypes let you:
- Target specific contract ability requirements exactly, avoiding paying for abilities you don't need.
- Combine abilities in ways the built-in satellites do not offer.
- Design satellites that match contracts you intend to create and post for auction, giving you control over both sides of a deal.
A well-designed prototype can be significantly cheaper than a built-in satellite of the same capability, freeing up cash for other investments.
6. Tips
- Match size to rocket. Before designing, check what rockets you have or can build. A huge satellite is useless if you can only launch small rockets.
- Check orbit requirements on abilities. An ability with a GEO orbit requirement earns nothing if your rocket can only reach LEO.
- Cost efficiency matters. Compare the total build cost against the contract revenue. A cheap, focused satellite often beats an expensive all-purpose one.
- Start small. Design a tiny or small satellite first to get familiar with the ability system, then scale up once you have better rockets.
For launch capability details (which rocket reaches which orbit with which satellite size), see the launch matrix in How to Play.