Space Dock Research
Space Dock Research unlocks the Space Dock ship, increases Patrol mission capacity, and strengthens your Space Dock outpost.
Overview
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Advanced Research |
| Max Level | Unlimited |
| Cost | 240,000 Metal / 160,000 Crystal / 120,000 Deuterium |
| Effect | Unlocks the Space Dock ship, adds +1 active Patrol mission slot per level, and improves Space Dock outposts |
| Prerequisites | Research Lab 4, plus the section 4 unlock requirement (2 cumulative section 3 levels) |
Notes
- Each level increases your Patrol mission slot cap by +1.
- Each level gives your Space Dock outpost +2 effective Shipyard levels and +1 effective Nanite Factory level.
- Each level increases Space Dock deuterium production by +25%.
- On first completion, you receive 1 Space Dock ship.
- The Space Dock ship is not buildable in Shipyard and is deployed from the Galaxy view (empty-slot action).
- Initial deployment range is based on the grant colony: same galaxy within 50 systems, or adjacent galaxy (±1) within 25 systems.
- The Space Dock ship deploys to empty planet slots and creates an outpost that can launch and receive fleets.
- Space Dock outposts can only construct Deuterium Synthesizer, Solar Plant, Sensor Phalanx, and Jump Gate as buildings. Their Shipyard and Nanite strength comes directly from Space Dock Research.
- Space Dock outposts always have an internal Moon Base level 1 baseline (hidden from the UI and not player-upgradeable).
- Space Dock resource settings are fixed to 100% for all production sliders.
- Space Dock relocation is available directly from the Facilities screen on Space Dock outposts (no building prerequisite).
- In Galaxy view, selecting an in-range empty slot and pressing Dock while on a Space Dock outpost redirects to the Deploy Space Dock screen with destination coordinates pre-filled.
- Relocation carries the Space Dock, all ships docked on it, and all stored resources to the new destination.
- During active Space Dock deployment/relocation flight, the destination slot is locked against other players' colonization and Space Dock deployment attempts.
- Players can own only one Space Dock at a time.
- Space Dock outposts can be destroyed by Moon Destruction missions. When destroyed, Space Dock Research resets to level 0, and you must research it again to obtain a new Space Dock ship.