Star Citizen Beginner Guide – Everything You Need to Start

One of the first things every new player in Star Citizen needs to learn is how to retrieve and spawn their ship. Since several recent patches, the process has become more immersive and closely tied to the persistent hangar system. For the complete sequence from retrieval to a safe landing, follow the first-flight walkthrough.

Spawning in Your Home Location

After creating your character and selecting a Home Location, you will usually spawn directly inside your personal hangar. No idea what home location you should pick? Do the quiz below to find a fitting suggestion for your preferences. This is your persistent hangar, meaning it remains tied to your chosen starting location.

At the beginning of the game, all ships, equipment, armor, weapons, and items you own are stored at this Home Location.

Directly near the spawn area, you will find an ASOP Terminal. These terminals are used to manage, retrieve, and store your ships.

How to Call Your Ship

To receive your ship:

1. Interact with the ASOP Terminal.
2. Select the ship you want to use.
3. Press the "Retrieve" button.
4. Your ship will then be delivered to your hangar using the hangar elevator system.

Once the delivery process is complete, your ship will appear inside your personal hangar, ready for departure.

Retrieving Ships Outside Your Home Location

When visiting other cities or stations, the process works slightly differently.

Because your persistent personal hangar only exists at your Home Location, you must use public ASOP Terminals at all other locations. These are usually located near the hangar elevators in spaceports and stations.

After retrieving your ship at the terminal:

• the game automatically assigns you a temporary hangar,
• sized appropriately for the selected ship,
• and displays the assigned hangar number on-screen.

Once you enter the assigned hangar, your ship will usually already be waiting for you.

Switching Ships Inside a Hangar

Inside most hangars, you can find another ASOP Terminal which allows you to switch to a different ship without leaving the hangar area.

However, there is an important limitation many new players overlook:

If the ship you want to retrieve is too large for the currently assigned hangar size, it will not appear in the hangar's ASOP Terminal list.

For example:

• a small hangar may only display fighters or starter ships,
• while larger cargo ships or capital ships require larger hangars.

If this happens, you must:

1. leave the current hangar,
2. return to the public ASOP Terminal outside,
3. and retrieve the larger ship from there.

The game will then assign you a new hangar large enough for that ship.

What Is an ASOP Terminal?

ASOP Terminals are one of the most important systems in Star Citizen. They act as the main interface for:

• retrieving ships,
• storing ships,
• checking claim timers,
• managing vehicle locations,
• and spawning ground vehicles in some locations.

Learning how ASOP systems work is one of the first major steps toward understanding the game's persistent universe systems.

Which home location fits your playstyle? - do the quiz and find out

Once you are seated in the pilot's seat and have successfully powered on your ship, the next step is leaving the hangar safely. For many new Star Citizen players, this is often the first real challenge. Taking your time and following a few simple steps will help you avoid collisions, fines, or an embarrassing trip back to the medical bed. The first-flight controls table provides the compact key reference used in this section.

Powering Up Your Ship

Before you can leave the hangar, your ship's systems must be online.

The default keybinds are:

• U - Flight Ready
• Hold F - Cockpit interaction mode

Press U to activate Flight Ready, or hold F and select the corresponding cockpit control. This prepares the essential ship systems for departure.

Take a moment to check your cockpit displays and make sure all systems are functioning correctly before attempting takeoff.

Requesting Takeoff Clearance

Even with your ship powered up, the hangar doors will remain closed until Air Traffic Control (ATC) grants you departure clearance.

You must first send a takeoff request to the local ATC. Once approved, the hangar doors will begin opening automatically. Depending on the location, this may take a few seconds.

Wait until the doors are fully open before moving your ship. Attempting to leave too early can result in damage to your vessel or even complete destruction.

Using the default keybind

Press Left Alt + N, the default shortcut to call ATC and request the hangar to open.

Use one of the MFDs

As an alternative to the keybind you can use one of the MFDs in your cockpit. Hold F and use the mouse to navigate to the Communications display. On the very top you'll see the closest ATC. Hit the Hail button to request a hangar opening.

Use the MobiGlass

Press F11 to open Commlink. In the Friends list, the nearest available ATC appears at the top when you are in range. Select it and use the Hail button to request your hangar to open.

Lifting Off Safely

With clearance granted and the hangar open, slowly lift your ship off the landing pad.

Use Spacebar to apply upward thrust and gently rise a few meters above the ground. Avoid accelerating too quickly. Most beginner accidents happen because pilots use excessive thrust inside confined hangars.

As you gain altitude, carefully look around and identify the safest route out of the hangar.

Leaving Horizontal Hangars

Some locations feature hangars that open directly toward the outside.

In these hangars:

• Lift off slightly from the landing pad.
• Keep the ship level.
• Slowly move forward using W.
• Maintain a low speed until you are completely clear of the hangar structure.

Be especially careful with larger ships, as wings, engines, and landing gear can easily clip nearby walls.

Leaving Vertical Hangars

Many major landing zones use vertical hangars that open above your ship.

In these cases:

• Lift straight upward using Spacebar.
• Continue ascending until your entire ship is clear of the hangar opening.
• Once safely above the structure, begin moving forward using W.
• Check for nearby traffic before accelerating away.

Remember that larger ships require significantly more clearance than smaller fighters.

Retracting Your Landing Gear

After clearing the hangar and reaching a safe altitude, retract your landing gear.

The default keybind is:

• N - Landing Gear Toggle

Retracting the landing gear improves your ship's aerodynamics and reduces drag, allowing for better acceleration and maneuverability. Usually the "auto slowdown" is activated only while the landing gear is down. Once you retract it, the ship starts to accelerate as the "slowdown" is disabled then.

Begin Your Journey

Congratulations! You have successfully departed your first hangar in Star Citizen.

Now is a good time to orient yourself, set a destination on your Star Map, and begin exploring the vast universe. Whether you're heading toward a mission, meeting friends, trading cargo, or simply sightseeing, every journey starts with a safe takeoff.

Take it slow, stay aware of your surroundings, and before long, leaving a hangar will become second nature. Welcome to the 'verse, pilot.

One of the first questions every new Star Citizen player asks is: How do I make money?

The good news is that Star Citizen offers a wide variety of activities that allow you to earn credits, known as aUEC (Alpha United Earth Credits). Whether you enjoy combat, exploration, hauling cargo, mining, salvaging, medical gameplay, or simply flying from place to place, there is a profession for almost every playstyle.

Accessing Missions

The easiest way for beginners to start earning money is through the mission system.

Press F2 to open your mobiGlas and navigate to the Contracts Manager tab. Here you will find a large selection of available missions offered by various organizations and companies throughout the Stanton system.

Contracts are divided into different categories, making it easy to find activities that match your interests and experience level. The availability of some missions may depend on the location you are at.

Choose the Gameplay You Enjoy

There is no single "best" way to make money in Star Citizen. The most profitable activity often changes as the game evolves, and what works best for one player may not be enjoyable for another.

Some popular beginner-friendly contract types include:

• Delivery Missions - Transport packages between locations.
• Mercenary Missions - Eliminate hostile targets or clear bunkers.
• Investigation Missions - Search for missing persons and recover data.
• Maintenance Missions - Perform simple tasks around stations and settlements.
• Medical Missions - Rescue injured players and NPCs.
• Cargo Hauling Missions - Transport goods between locations for profit.

New players are encouraged to try several mission types to discover which gameplay loops they enjoy most.

Start Small and Learn the Basics

While it may be tempting to jump straight into high-paying contracts, it is often better to begin with lower-risk missions. These contracts help you learn how to fly, navigate, land, use your mobiGlas, and understand the game's mechanics without risking expensive equipment or long travel times.

As you gain experience and build your reputation with various organizations, more advanced and better-paying missions will become available.

Team Up With Other Players

Another excellent way to earn money is by joining other players. Many experienced pilots are happy to bring newcomers aboard as turret gunners, crew members, medical support, or cargo handlers.

Not only can this be a great source of income, but it is also one of the fastest ways to learn the game and experience larger ships that you may not own yourself.

Build Your Reputation

Completing contracts successfully increases your reputation with the organizations that offer them. Higher reputation levels unlock better missions, larger payouts, and more opportunities across the universe.

For this reason, consistency is often more important than chasing the highest-paying contract available.

Your Journey Starts Here

Making money in Star Citizen is ultimately about finding the activities you enjoy most. Open your mobiGlas, browse the Contracts Manager, accept a mission that sounds interesting, and start building your career among the stars.

Whether you become a bounty hunter, trader, miner, salvager, medic, or explorer, every successful Citizen starts with their very first contract.

How to Use a Quantum Drive in Star Citizen: Beginner's Guide

Travelling between planets, moons, stations, and outposts in Star Citizen would take hours using conventional engines alone. That's why every ship is equipped with a Quantum Drive, allowing pilots to travel vast distances across the system in just minutes.

If you're new to Star Citizen, learning how to use your Quantum Drive is one of the most important skills you'll need.

Selecting a Destination

Before you can begin a quantum jump, you must choose a destination.

Press F2 to open the Star Map and select the location you wish to travel to. This can be a planet, moon, space station, city, outpost, or mission objective.

After selecting your destination, choose Set Route. A navigation marker will appear in your HUD, showing you where to point your ship.

Spooling Your Quantum Drive

Once a route has been set, turn your ship toward the destination marker.

Press and hold B to begin spooling the Quantum Drive. During this process, your ship prepares the drive for faster-than-light travel.

Depending on your ship and the installed Quantum Drive, the spool-up process may take a few seconds.

Calibration

After the drive has finished spooling, it must calibrate to the selected destination.

Keep your ship pointed toward the navigation marker while calibration progresses. If you turn too far away from the target, calibration may slow down or reset.

Once calibration reaches 100%, your Quantum Drive is ready to engage.

Initiating Quantum Travel

With the drive fully spooled and calibrated, click the left mouse button to initiate the quantum jump.

Your ship will accelerate into Quantum Travel and begin moving toward the selected destination at incredible speed.

During the jump, normal flight controls are largely unavailable until the journey is complete.

Quantum Markers and Navigation

Not every destination can be reached directly. Sometimes your route may require one or more intermediate jumps.

Simply follow the route generated by the Star Map and continue jumping between navigation markers until you reach your final destination.

Mission objectives often create their own markers, making them easy to locate.

Fuel Management

Quantum Travel consumes Quantum Fuel, which is separate from your ship's normal hydrogen fuel.

Larger ships often carry more fuel and can travel farther without refueling. Smaller ships may require occasional fuel stops at stations or landing zones.

Before beginning a long journey, it's always a good idea to check your fuel levels on your ship's displays.

Arriving at Your Destination

As you approach your destination, the Quantum Drive will automatically disengage.

Take a moment to orient yourself and identify your next objective. If you're heading to a station, city, or outpost, you can now begin your approach and request landing clearance when you arrive.

Explore the 'Verse

The Quantum Drive is what makes the vast universe of Star Citizen accessible. Once you understand how to set routes, spool, calibrate, and jump, travelling across the Stanton system becomes quick and easy.

Mastering Quantum Travel opens the door to trading, exploration, combat missions, mining operations, and countless adventures waiting among the stars.

Sooner or later, every pilot in Star Citizen will lose a ship. Whether it is destroyed in combat, crashes into a mountain, or mysteriously disappears after a bug, knowing how the ship claiming system works is an important part of life in the 'verse.

What Happens When Your Ship Is Lost?

If your ship is destroyed or otherwise unavailable, you can request a replacement at any vehicle terminal.

Simply interact with an ASOP Vehicle Terminal, locate your ship in the list, and select Claim. After a short waiting period, a replacement ship will be delivered to the station or landing zone where you are currently located.

Most ships can also be expedited for an additional fee, reducing the waiting time significantly.

The Current Claim System

At the moment, the claiming system acts as a temporary replacement mechanic that ensures players always have access to their pledged and purchased ships.

Once the claim timer has expired, your replacement vessel can be retrieved and used normally. In most cases, any cargo, equipment, or items that were aboard the lost ship will not be recovered automatically.

What About Insurance?

Many ships are sold with insurance packages such as 6 months, 10 years, or even Lifetime Insurance (LTI). While these insurance terms are displayed in players' hangars and pledge information, they currently have no practical impact on gameplay.

As of today, ships can be claimed regardless of their listed insurance duration, and players do not need to purchase or maintain insurance in order to recover their pledged vessels.

Insurance Is Still Under Development

It is important to understand that Star Citizen is still in active development, and the long-term insurance system has not yet been fully implemented.

Cloud Imperium Games has discussed various insurance concepts over the years, and the planned mechanics have evolved several times during development. As a result, the final insurance system may differ significantly from earlier proposals.

For this reason, new players should avoid making purchasing decisions based solely on insurance duration, as the exact role of insurance in the finished game remains subject to change.

Focus on Learning the Game

For now, the ship claiming process is simple: if your ship is lost, visit an ASOP terminal, submit a claim, wait for the timer to complete, and retrieve your replacement vessel.

While insurance may become a more meaningful gameplay mechanic in the future, today's pilots can focus on learning to fly, completing missions, and exploring the universe without worrying about insurance coverage.

Keeping your ship fueled, repaired, and ready for action is an essential part of life in Star Citizen. Whether you've just completed a long quantum journey, survived a dogfight, or simply spent hours exploring the system, knowing how to service your ship will help keep you flying.

Landing at a Station or Spaceport

Before you can refuel or repair your ship, you must first land at a location that offers these services.

Approach a space station, city, or outpost and request landing permission from Air Traffic Control (ATC). Once clearance has been granted, land your ship carefully on the assigned pad or inside the designated hangar.

After touching down, make sure your ship has come to a complete stop.

Accessing Repair and Refueling Services

Once landed, open your mobiGlas and navigate to the Vehicle Maintenance Services app.

This interface allows you to purchase several services for your current ship, including:

• Hull Repairs
• Hydrogen Fuel Refills
• Quantum Fuel Refills
• Rearming Missiles and Ballistic Ammunition

The available options depend on the condition of your ship and the services offered at your current location.

Understanding Fuel Types

Star Citizen uses two primary fuel systems:

Hydrogen Fuel

• Used during normal flight.
• Consumed while maneuvering, taking off, landing, and flying through atmospheres.

Quantum Fuel

• Used exclusively for Quantum Travel.
• Consumed whenever you perform a quantum jump between locations.

Monitoring both fuel levels is important, especially before undertaking long journeys across the Stanton system.

Repairing Your Ship

Combat damage, collisions, and general wear can affect your ship's performance.

Selecting the repair option will restore damaged hull sections and components when possible. The cost depends on the amount of damage sustained.

If your ship has suffered severe damage, some components may require manual replacement rather than simple repairs.

Rearming Weapons

If your ship uses missiles or ballistic weapons, you can also purchase ammunition and missile reloads through the Vehicle Maintenance Services interface.

Energy weapons do not require ammunition and therefore do not need to be rearmed.

Troubleshooting Service Issues

As Star Citizen is still in development, repair, refuel, and rearm services may occasionally fail to function correctly.

If services do not appear or refuse to process, common solutions include:

• Storing and retrieving your ship.
• Landing on a different pad or hangar.
• Contacting ATC again.
• Travelling to another station.
• Claiming the ship if severe issues persist.

Many service-related problems are temporary and can often be resolved with one of these methods.

Stay Flight Ready

Regular maintenance is part of being a successful pilot. Before setting out on a long mission, always check your fuel levels, repair any damage, and ensure your ship is properly supplied.

A few moments spent refueling and repairing can save you from becoming stranded millions of kilometers from your destination.

Few things are more frustrating than losing your ship to an avoidable crash. While Star Citizen offers incredible freedom of flight, it also rewards pilots who take their time and fly responsibly. The good news is that most crashes can be avoided by following a few simple habits.

Slow Down

The number one cause of crashes among new players is flying too fast.

Many ships are capable of reaching extremely high speeds, but that does not mean you should always fly at maximum velocity. When approaching stations, outposts, moons, or planets, reduce your speed well in advance.

A slower ship gives you more time to react to terrain, obstacles, and unexpected situations.

Watch Your Altitude

Flying close to the ground can be exciting, but it also leaves very little room for error.

Pay attention to your altitude indicators, especially when flying in darkness, bad weather, or over unfamiliar terrain. Mountains, buildings, and other obstacles can appear much sooner than expected.

When in doubt, gain altitude and create more space between yourself and the surface.

Be Careful in Atmospheric Flight

Planets with atmospheres affect your ship's handling.

Larger ships may respond more slowly to control inputs, while smaller ships can lose altitude quickly during aggressive maneuvers. Avoid making sudden turns close to the ground until you are comfortable with how your ship behaves.

Use Third-Person View

If you are struggling to judge your surroundings, press F4 to switch to an external camera view.

This can be particularly helpful when:

• Landing large ships.
• Leaving tight hangars.
• Navigating around stations.
• Avoiding obstacles during takeoff and landing.

Many experienced pilots regularly switch between cockpit and third-person views when performing difficult maneuvers.

Manage Your Speed Limiter

The speed limiter can help prevent accidental overspeed situations.

Using the mouse wheel, you can adjust your maximum velocity and create a safer operating speed for takeoffs, landings, and low-altitude flight.

Limiting your speed gives you more control and significantly reduces the risk of collisions.

Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

Always keep an eye on your flight path.

Space stations, asteroids, terrain features, and other ships can quickly become hazards if you are distracted. Avoid spending too much time looking at menus, maps, or mobiGlas screens while actively flying.

Whenever possible, complete navigation and mission planning before entering a busy flight environment.

Give Yourself Time to React

A good pilot rarely rushes.

Begin your descent earlier, slow down sooner, and leave extra room when maneuvering around structures. Most crashes happen because a pilot realizes a problem too late and does not have enough time to correct it.

Flying cautiously is almost always faster than claiming a destroyed ship.

Learn From Every Mistake

Every pilot in Star Citizen crashes eventually. Even experienced veterans occasionally misjudge a landing or collide with an obstacle.

The important thing is to understand why the accident happened and adjust your flying habits accordingly. With practice, you'll develop better situational awareness, smoother control inputs, and the confidence needed to handle any ship safely.

Fly Safe, Pilot

The safest pilots are not always the fastest-they are the ones who stay in control.

Reduce your speed, maintain your altitude, stay aware of your surroundings, and take your time. Follow these principles and you'll spend far more time exploring the stars and far less time waiting for insurance claims.

Death is a natural part of life in Star Citizen. Whether you are exploring a hostile bunker, fighting pirates in deep space, or simply misjudging a landing, sooner or later every pilot will find themselves waking up in a hospital bed.

Fortunately, death in Star Citizen is not as punishing as many new players expect, but there are still consequences worth understanding.

Respawning After Death

When your character dies, you will respawn at your currently assigned medical facility.

For most new players, this is usually the hospital located at their chosen starting city. However, you can change your regeneration point by visiting another hospital or medical facility and transferring your imprint there.

After respawning, you can immediately continue playing and begin recovering any lost equipment or vehicles.

What Happens to Your Gear?

When you die, the equipment you were carrying remains on your body at the location where you died.

This includes:

• Armor
• Weapons
• Ammunition
• Medical supplies
• Backpacks
• Other carried items

If you are able to return to your corpse, you can often recover your belongings. However, this is not always possible, especially if you died in a dangerous area or your body becomes inaccessible.

For this reason, many experienced players avoid carrying expensive equipment unless necessary.

What Happens to Your Ship?

If your ship is destroyed along with you, it will generally need to be claimed through an ASOP terminal.

Once the claim timer has completed, a replacement ship can be retrieved and used normally.

Any cargo or items stored aboard the lost ship may not be recoverable, depending on the circumstances.

Medical Gameplay and Rescue

Death is not always immediate.

In many situations, your character may first enter an incapacitated state. During this time, other players can revive or rescue you using medical equipment.

This has created an entire profession within Star Citizen, with dedicated medical pilots responding to distress beacons and rescuing stranded players throughout the system.

If help arrives in time, you may avoid death entirely and continue your adventure.

Crime and Prison

If you die while possessing a CrimeStat, additional consequences may apply.

Depending on the circumstances, you may respawn in prison rather than at a hospital. From there, you can either serve your sentence, perform work to reduce your remaining time, or attempt an escape.

Law-abiding pilots generally have little reason to worry about this system.

Death Is Still Evolving

It is important to remember that Star Citizen remains in active development.

Cloud Imperium Games has stated that the long-term vision for death and character persistence will become more detailed over time. Various systems related to injury, medical gameplay, and character consequences continue to evolve throughout development.

As a result, the exact mechanics of death may change in future updates.

Don't Be Afraid to Take Risks

Every Star Citizen player dies eventually. In fact, making mistakes is one of the fastest ways to learn.

While death may cost you some equipment, time, or cargo, it is rarely the end of your adventure. Learn from each experience, prepare for the unexpected, and don't let the fear of losing gear stop you from exploring everything the 'verse has to offer.

Your spawn location, also known as your regeneration point, determines where you will wake up after dying. Understanding how to set and change your spawn location is important, especially once you begin travelling far from your starting city.

Fortunately, changing your respawn location is quick and easy.

Your First Spawn Location

When you create a new character, Star Citizen will ask you to choose a starting city.

This location becomes your initial regeneration point, meaning you will respawn there whenever you die until you decide to change it.

While your choice is important at the beginning, don't worry too much-you can change your spawn location later at any major medical facility.

Finding a Medical Facility

To set a new spawn location, you must visit a hospital or clinic that supports medical regeneration.

These can be found at:

• Major cities
• Space stations with medical facilities
• Certain orbital stations throughout the Stanton system

Once you arrive, locate the medical center and enter the hospital area.

Setting Your Regeneration Point

Inside the medical facility, look for a Regeneration Terminal.

Interact with the terminal and select Transfer Imprint.

After confirming the transfer, that facility becomes your new regeneration point. From this moment onward, any future deaths will cause you to respawn at that location instead of your previous one.

The process only takes a few seconds and can be repeated whenever you wish to move your spawn location elsewhere.

Why Change Your Spawn Location?

Many players regularly move their regeneration point depending on what activities they plan to do.

Common reasons include:

• Being closer to friends and organization members.
• Reducing travel time to mission areas.
• Operating near a favorite station or city.
• Preparing for events, combat operations, or mining expeditions.
• Avoiding long trips from a distant starting location.

A well-placed spawn location can save a significant amount of time after an unexpected death.

Medical Beds and Respawning

Some ships contain medical facilities capable of treating injuries, but not all medical beds can currently function as regeneration points.

The ability to respawn aboard a ship depends on the capabilities of that vessel and the current game mechanics. Because these systems continue to evolve throughout development, their functionality may change in future updates.

Checking Your Current Spawn Location

If you're unsure where your regeneration point is set, the easiest way to verify it is by visiting a medical facility and checking the regeneration terminal.

Many experienced players make a habit of confirming their spawn location before beginning long operations or travelling to another region of the system.

Make Life Easier After Death

Setting your spawn location strategically is one of the simplest ways to improve your Star Citizen experience.

Before heading out on a major adventure, take a few moments to transfer your imprint to a nearby station or hospital. If the unexpected happens, you'll be back in action much faster and ready to continue your journey among the stars.

Landing is one of the most important skills every pilot must learn in Star Citizen. While taking off is usually straightforward, a poor landing can quickly result in damaged components, lost cargo, or even a destroyed ship. The first-flight guide combines takeoff, quantum travel, landing, and ship storage in one continuous walkthrough.

The good news is that with a little patience and practice, safe landings become second nature.

Prepare Your Approach

As you approach your destination, begin reducing your speed well before reaching the landing area.

Many new pilots make the mistake of arriving too fast and attempting to slow down at the last second. Instead, gradually reduce your velocity and give yourself plenty of time to assess the environment.

Whether you're landing at a space station, city, outpost, or remote location, a controlled approach is always the safest option.

Request Landing Clearance

If you are arriving at a city, station, or other controlled location, you must first request landing permission from Air Traffic Control (ATC).

Once clearance has been granted, you will be assigned a landing pad or hangar. Follow the marker provided and carefully approach your designated landing area.

Attempting to land without authorization may prevent hangar doors from opening or make it difficult to locate your assigned landing zone.

Lower Your Landing Gear

Before touching down, deploy your landing gear.

The default keybind is:

• N - Toggle Landing Gear

Lowering the landing gear stabilizes your ship and prepares it for a safe landing. Most ships also provide visual and audio indicators confirming that the gear has been deployed correctly.

Control Your Descent

As you move into position above the landing area, reduce your speed even further.

Use gentle control inputs and descend slowly using downward thrust. Avoid sudden movements or aggressive corrections, particularly when flying larger ships.

A smooth and controlled descent is almost always preferable to a fast landing.

Touch Down Carefully

Once your ship is aligned with the landing pad or hangar floor, continue descending until the landing gear makes contact with the surface.

After touchdown, reduce all thrust inputs and allow the ship to settle completely before powering down systems or exiting the cockpit.

Many ships will automatically display a confirmation once a successful landing has been detected.

Landing on Planetary Surfaces

Not every landing takes place at a station or city.

Exploration, mining, cargo operations, and mission gameplay often require pilots to land on open terrain. Fortunately, Star Citizen offers several tools and techniques that can help you safely place your ship on uneven surfaces.

Because these methods vary depending on the ship, terrain, and situation, they are covered in greater detail within the For Citizens guides, where you can learn advanced landing techniques and best practices for operating safely throughout the 'verse.

Practice Makes Perfect

Every pilot experiences rough landings from time to time. The key is to stay calm, reduce your speed early, and focus on maintaining control throughout the entire approach.

With experience, you'll learn how different ships handle, how to judge distances more accurately, and how to land confidently in almost any environment.

Welcome Home, Pilot

A successful landing marks the end of every journey and the beginning of the next adventure.

Take your time, fly smoothly, and remember that a safe landing is always better than a fast one. Master this skill, and you'll be ready to operate anywhere in the Star Citizen universe.