Astrophysics

Astrophysics enables planet colonization and extends Interplanetary Missile range. Your total planet cap starts at 1 and increases by 1 per level.

Overview

Property	Value
Type	Expansion Technology
Lab Notes	Research Lab level affects speed only
Prerequisites	Research Lab 3 (section 1 has no cross-tech prerequisite chain)

Description

Astrophysics research enables the discovery and colonization of new worlds. It also determines how far Interplanetary Missiles can reach inside the same galaxy. The colony benefit is unchanged all the way up the tree, but the research cost curve becomes noticeably steeper after level 10.

Effects

Maximum Total Planets

Max Total Planets = 1 + Astrophysics Level

This is your total planet cap, including your homeworld.

Colony Table

Level	Max Total Planets
0	1
1	2
2	3
3	4
5	6
10	11
15	16
20	21

Interplanetary Missile Range

Missile Range = (Astrophysics Level * 5) - 1 systems

Astrophysics level 0 gives no missile launch range.

Level	Missile Range
1	4 systems
2	9 systems
3	14 systems
5	24 systems
10	49 systems

Research Costs

Formula

If Level <= 10:
  Cost = Base Cost * 1.75^(Level - 1)

If Level > 10:
  Cost = Base Cost * 1.75^(Level - 1) * 2^((Level - 10) / 10)

All Astrophysics costs are still rounded to the nearest 100 resources.

Cost Table

Level	Metal	Crystal	Deuterium
1	4,000	8,000	4,000
2	7,000	14,000	7,000
4	21,438	42,875	21,438
8	201,587	403,174	201,587
10	615,700	1,231,500	615,700
11	1,154,900	2,309,800	1,154,900
15	14,292,500	28,585,000	14,292,500
20	331,751,500	663,503,000	331,751,500

Availability

Astrophysics is a section 1 research, so once your planet has Research Lab 3 you can start it without any additional cross-tech chain.

Colonization

Requirements

To colonize a new planet:

Astrophysics level for colony slot
Colony Ship built
Target empty planet position

Colony Process

Send Colony Ship to empty coordinates
Ship lands and establishes colony
New planet appears in your empire
Begin building on new colony

Strategy

Expansion Priority

More colonies = more production:

Each colony adds resource income
Specialized planets (deuterium, fleet)
Essential for growth

Research Path

Level 0: Homeworld only
Level 1: Up to 2 total planets
Level 2: Up to 3 total planets
Level 3: Up to 4 total planets
Level 10: Last level on the old cost curve
Level 11+: Same colony benefit, but research cost ramps harder

Missile Planning

Level 1 reaches targets up to 4 systems away
Higher levels add 5 systems of reach per level
IPMs still cannot cross galaxies

Note on Expeditions

The legacy Expedition mission is not used in the current implementation. The active deep-space progression path uses Exploration instead.