Rocket Platform

Rocket Platform is the landing and launch pad used by rockets in Spaced Out!. A rocket can launch only from a Rocket Platform, and an empty platform can also serve as a valid landing site. In practice, it is the fixed infrastructure that makes rocket operations possible on a planetoid.

For a rocket to use a Rocket Platform, the vertical flight path above it must be clear of untraversable blocks. Pipes, wires, ladders, drywall, and tempshift plates do not block rocket movement, so they can remain in the launch corridor. The maximum allowed rocket height from its bottom to its top is 35 tiles, not counting the platform itself. If there are fewer than 35 tiles of clearance between the platform and the upper barrier, the Rocket Platform shows a “Low Clearance: x Tiles” warning in its description. Different rocket types have their own detailed clearance needs, so the space requirements should still be checked before construction.

The platform’s supporting area is only cosmetic during launch and landing. When a rocket is built or about to touch down, red boxes appear above and behind the Rocket Platform to show the supporting structure, but these do not function as actual back walls.

A few practical notes make Rocket Platform setup much easier:

• Rovers cannot build Rocket Platforms.
• On a new planetoid, the fastest way to establish one is often to use two Trailblazer Landers, which can be deconstructed to recover a combined 800 Refined Metal.
• Once the platform is complete, a rocket in orbit can be allowed to land on it and resume operations.
• Refined Metals with no advantageous traits are recommended for Rocket Platforms.

Because the platform serves both launch and landing, it is one of the most important pieces of late-game rocket infrastructure. Proper clearance, a clear flight path, and a ready landing spot are all required for reliable use.