The interface has three layers: the star map, flight and the hangar. Each has its own keys, but moving between them follows the same rules. Learn them once and your hands will do the rest.
Shared rules
- Esc — close a panel, leave combat for the map, clear the selection.
- Left mouse button — select an object or fire, depending on the layer.
- Mouse wheel — zoom the camera in or out.
- On a phone, targets are one-touch and at least 44 px.
Star map
| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Rotate the system | Drag with the mouse |
| Zoom in or out | Mouse wheel |
| Inspect a planet | Single click on the planet |
| Choose a plot and found a colony | Double click on the planet |
| Open the galaxy | Galaxy button in the left rail |
| Find a system | Search in the Galaxy panel across 250 systems |
| Travel to a system | Select the system and confirm the jump |
| Close the panel | Esc |
The left rail holds System, Galaxy, Bases, Hangar, Combat and Help. The header label shows the current system, or the planet name once one is selected. Clicking the label opens Galaxy with that system already chosen.
Flight
| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Thrust forward and back | W / S |
| Yaw left and right | A / D |
| Roll | Q / E |
| Lift and drop | R / F |
| Mouse steering | Move the mouse |
| Fire | Space or the left mouse button |
| Boost | Shift |
| Cockpit or third person | V |
| Inspect or loot | X |
| Return to the map | Esc |
Flight is arcade-style with inertia, but without Newtonian orbital mechanics. All six degrees of freedom are available: fly backwards, sideways, up and down, and perform a full barrel roll or loop.
Combat
Combat uses the flight keys plus a few of its own:
- Space — fire.
- Shift — boost for a short burst.
- V — switch camera: the cockpit is better for aiming, third person for awareness.
- X — inspect a target at 180 m, or loot and board at 120 m.
- Esc — leave combat.
Hangar
| Action | Control |
|---|---|
| Select a part | Click it in the viewport |
| Move | T |
| Rotate | R |
| Scale | S |
| Local or world axes | Space or E |
| Duplicate | Ctrl / Cmd + D |
| Delete | Delete / Backspace |
The hangar opens from the top menu, or from a base with a starport. More in Ships and the hangar.
Mobile
On phones and tablets two virtual sticks appear: the left one handles thrust and yaw, the right one roll and look. Portrait and landscape both work; build tabs scroll on narrow screens, and placing modules is a single tap.
What next
- Your first hour — if you haven’t run the starter steps yet.
- Flight and combat — how these keys behave in a real fight.
- Ships and the hangar — what exactly you are assembling.