First Landing and Basic Infrastructure

This milestone ensures you have a stable starting point on Mars. It lays the groundwork for all future expansion by providing reliable power, water, and oxygen, as well as basic resource extraction.

Tasks

1. Select Sponsor and Commander Profile

   • Purpose: Your sponsor determines initial funding, unique benefits, and special tech. Your commander profile gives bonus skills and starting techs.
   • Requirements: Read each sponsor’s perks and constraints. Choose a commander profile that complements your style (e.g., Rocket Scientist for extra rockets).
   • Contribution: Ensures you start with the resources, funding, and benefits that best support your long-term strategy.

2. Choose Landing Site

   • Purpose: The colony’s location affects resource availability (metal, concrete, water) and difficulty (dust storms, cold waves, meteors).
   • Requirements: Scan potential coordinates. Prioritize water and metals if possible, while balancing threats.
   • Contribution: A well-chosen site reduces early-game hardship and sets you up for easier expansion.

3. Deploy Your First Rocket and Drones

   • Purpose: Transport essential cargo (e.g., drone hub, fuel refinery, machine parts) and set up the initial colony grid.
   • Requirements: Pack your rocket with enough supplies to build basic infrastructure (power cables, pipes, life support).
   • Contribution: Establishes the foundation for everything—no rocket, no colony.

4. Establish Power, Water, and Oxygen Production

   • Purpose: Keep your colony functional with solar panels, wind turbines, water extractors, or vaporators, plus oxygen tanks.
   • Requirements: Place power cables to connect generators and storage. Set up water supply lines and oxygen generators.
   • Contribution: Guarantees a sustainable life-support loop for future domes and expansions.

5. Set Up Resource Stockpiles and Basic Storage

   • Purpose: Drones need storage areas for metals, concrete, fuel, etc. This keeps your build sites organized.
   • Requirements: Place universal depots or specialized storage near production sites.
   • Contribution: Prevents resource bottlenecks and makes building new structures faster.

How This Milestone Contributes to the Overall Project

• Foundation: Without stable basics (power, water, oxygen), you can’t sustain a dome or colonists.
• Efficiency: Having the right sponsor, landing site, and infrastructure from the start reduces costly mistakes down the line.