Astroneer is a game all about exploration, resource gathering, and to some extent, base building. There is a little bit of automation sprinkled into the mix for hardcore fans, but it's not a requirement to play the game, but rather an addition for those who appreciate the finer details of the crafting system.

The exploration part of the game requires the player to have a shuttle that can transport them between planets. These shuttles, in turn, require thrusters that can provide the necessary power to leave orbit. The first, and easiest to make, thruster in the game is the Solid Fuel Thruster.

astroneer hoverboard and logo
Astroneer: How to Get a Hoverboard

Once unlocked, Astroneer's Hoverboard allows players the chance to move objects and resources around their world with great speed.

How to Unlock Solid Fuel Thrusters

How to unlock the solid fuel thruster in astroneer

Solid Fuel Thrusters are a simple enough attachment to unlock. Players can obtain them by using 500 Bytes. Even if you don't have a research station with research items, getting 500 bytes is quite easy on the rich worlds of Astroneer.

Research samples can be found scattered throughout the map, no matter which planet you are currently trying to colonize. They are typically found near plants or rock formations, both above ground and inside the caves of the planet. Research samples found in the inner core are typically worth more than those found in the outer core or on the surface.

astroneer riding the rails
Astroneer: Rails System Guide

Astroneer's latest update and its complex railroad system gives players the chance to connect bases and ship materials much faster.

How to Craft Solid Fuel Thrusters

How to craft the solid fuel thruster in astroneer

Solid Fuel Thrusters are a Medium-tier item that can be attached to a Small, Medium, or Large Shuttle. The size of the shuttle doesn't make a difference in the number of uses per thruster, i.e., four take-offs.

To craft a Solid Fuel Thruster, players need:

  • Small Printer
  • x1 Ammonium
  • x1 Aluminum

Ammonium can be found in grasslands, underground cave systems, or forests. It is present on all planets, but is most common on the surface of Novus and Desolo. To get 1 Ammonium from the Soil Centrifuge, players need 2 canisters of Soil. Meanwhile, Aluminum can be obtained by smelting Laterite, a material found in the subsurface caves of all planets.

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Systems
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Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 56%
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Released
February 6, 2019
ESRB
E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
System Era Softworks
Publisher(s)
System Era Softworks
Engine
Unreal Engine 4
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Platform(s)
PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Developer
System Era Softworks
Publisher
System Era Softworks
Genre(s)
Adventure
OpenCritic Rating
Strong