Research

Research is a fundamental part of The Last Starship. This gives players the ability to craft objects with blueprints being researched. It also may give buffs to certain objects.

Points

There are two types of points, Research Points (RP) and Computation Points (CP). Research Points are accumulated through the Science Station whereas Computation Points are generated by Super Computers.

Branches

Andromeda Project

• Andromeda Project Part 1 (1 RP)
• Andromeda Project Part 2 (2 RP + 1 CP)
• Andromeda Project Part 3 (4 RP + 3 CP)

Neubidium

• Neubidium Processing (1 RP + 2 CP)
• Neubidium Fabrication (2 RP + 3 CP)

Zeleon

• Zeleon Gas (1 RP + 2 CP)
• Zeleon Energy Containment (2 RP + 3 CP)

Drones

• Drone Speed 1 (1 RP + 2 CP)
• Drone Speed 2 (2 RP + 3 CP)
• Drone Speed (2 RP + 2 CP + Research Credit)
• Drone Assembly (4 RP + 4 CP)
• Drone Intelligence (2 RP + 3 CP)

Science

• Science (1 RP)
• Deflector Beams (3 RP + 3 CP)
• Sector Surveying (3 RP + 3 CP)

Mining

• Mining Laser Precision (3 RP + 3 CP)
• Mining Laser Precision 2 (4 RP + 4 CP)

Energy

• Reactor Efficiency (2 RP + 2 CP + Research Credit)

Metallurgy

• Metallurgy Level 1 (2 RP + 1 CP)
• Metallurgy Level 2 (3 RP + 2 CP)
• Metallurgy (2 RP + 2 CP + Research Credit)

Automation

• Automation (1 RP + 1 CP)

Track

• Track Speed 1 (2 RP + 2 CP)
• Track Speed 2 (4 RP + 4 CP)
• Advanced Tracks (2 RP + 2 CP)

Robot Arm

• Compact Robot Arm (2 RP + 2 CP)
• Smart Robot Arm (2 RP + 2 CP)
• Robot Arm Speed 1 (2 RP + 2 CP)
• Robot Arm Speed (2 RP + 2 CP + Research Credit)

Logistics

• Logistics (1 RP)
• Logistics Level 2 (2 RP)
• Logistics Level 3 (3 RP)

Habitation

• Habitation (1 RP)

Recycling

• Recycling Efficiency 1 (2 RP + 1 CP)
• Recycling Efficiency 2 (4 RP + 3 CP)

Hydroponics

• Hydroponics 1 (2 RP + 2 CP)
• Hydroponics 2 (3 RP + 3 CP)
• Hydroponics (2 RP + 2 CP + Research Credit)

Research Credit

Research Credit is a special resource used to unlock certain advanced or incremental research projects. These credits are primarily obtained by salvaging Derelict Ships discovered during Sector Scans.

Research Credits as well as 2 RP and 2 CP are required for the following research projects:

• Robot Arm Speed – an incremental improvement of the robot arm speed.
• Hydroponics – enhances previously researched hydroponics systems with marginal gains.
• Drone Speed – increases the speed of drones slightly above the baseline performance unlocked in earlier research.
• Metallurgy – improves smelter efficiency as an extension of the core metallurgy research branch.
• Reactor Efficiency – provides a small boost to reactor efficiency beyond the foundational reactor research.

These projects generally serve as small, incremental upgrades to existing technologies, allowing players to optimize performance without introducing entirely new systems. Research Credits are consumed upon initiating these projects and cannot be recovered.

History

• Alpha 5: Introduced.
• Alpha 17: Research Credit introduced.