Discoveries

Discoveries in Astroneer consist of a large number of different items, structures and debris randomly generated throughout the Planets. Offering a range of resources, Research Items, puzzles and side quests, they can be highly valuable during both the early and late game, a precious source of refined ores for the starting base and, apart from the rare find in very deep caves, almost exclusively the only place where to obtain the technology category Research Items.

Gateway Network
The Gateway Fast Travel Network spans across the entire star system. To activate nodes, players must find and power Gateway Chambers across planet surfaces, each planet requiring differing amounts of power, and allowing the player to teleport to other active nodes on the same planet. After activating a chamber, the player must delve deep to the cores to find the Gateway Engine, providing resources unique to each engine to obtain a Geometric Triptych. Once a single engine has been activated, the Gateway Portal satellite appears over the sun, allowing travel between the satellite and activated Gateway Engines.

Large White Cylindrical Satellite Piece
The large white cylindrical spacecraft contains a Rover Seat or a Medium Storage and 4 resources. These are attached to a central beam within the spacecraft, accessible through a large hole in the side. The resources range from common to rare. Commonly, 1-2 Research Items are scattered around the crash site, partially buried in the ground. It used to broadcast a radio signal with a barely audible morse code message, which translates to this message: "this may be my last transmission low on oxygen low on fuel low on supplies should have never jumped to this system such a fool goodbye I'm sorry".

Wrecked Solar Arrays
For the full article, see Wrecked Solar Array.

The Wrecked Solar Arrays are Space Objects that consist of a single large solar panel and a connection point. The solar panel is one-sided and if facing the sun, generates power which can be drawn into a vehicle. It can be moved by the player or a Vehicle with a Winch. See Wrecked Solar Array for more information.

Broken Solar Arrays
A broken solar array can be found partially or completely buried. This one does not have attachment slots to provide power.

Crashed Lander
The Crashed Pod is small compared to other space objects, making it much harder to spot. It is a tiny shuttle with 3 attachment points inside containing resources ranging from common to rare. Commonly, 1-2 Research Items are scattered around the crash site, partially buried in the ground. It cannot be moved without a Winch, and therefore cannot be shredded without blowing it up first.

Satellite Piece Wrecks
Some other variation of the satellite wrecks, this object contains a random amount of resource (somewhere between 3 and 8) and may sometimes spawn a Rover Seat, Medium Storage or Medium Battery.

Complete Wrecked Space Station
A complete assemblage of the various Satellite Pieces found across the game. Each of the pieces contains the same loot as if it was found separately, totaling a large haul. There is a solid bulkhead partway through, so entrance must be gained from both ends to acquire all items. The satellite could not be moved even when using multiple winches, but was able to be lifted to the surface using the terrain tool. A Hydrazine Thruster is able to be attached to the interior, but does nothing even with 3 hydrazine canisters attached. These can also be destroyed with Dynamite. Screenshots are attached as reference.

Damaged Landing Pad
A standalone Landing Pad that can be found on any planet. In previous versions of the game, there was only one on the surface of Desolo, so old saves will play differently. It features three tier 3 and two tier 1 Attachment Slots. Similar to Shuttles, the player can receive Oxygen and Power from it at short range but connected Tethers will not receive oxygen unless an Oxygenator is attached. The pad behaves like a Platform in that it can provide power to Modules placed on it and to other Platforms, Vehicles, etc. It cannot be moved nor destroyed by Dynamite. It will not be destroyed nor fall if you delete the "hard" soil under it. It can be attached to a Winch, but will not be moved by it.

The top resembles a Landing Pad and functions just like one after the change in Update 1.26.

Keep the catwalk area clear of objects or the Landing Zone (the bubble from orbit) could be blocked. The Attachment Slots may still be used normally.

Any machinery present will place their results on to a present shuttles or item slot (if present).

Dead Explorer
Occasionally in caves, and next to all broken dropship wrecks you will come across an abandoned backpack. It always contains a few resources and/or gadgets (often extenders, power cells, and small horns). Before the 1.0 update the player could also find an entire explorer beneath the surface.

Giant Bones
A complete and a partial ribcage, as well as a jaw bone containing Research Items, could be found both above and underground. This was removed in the 1.0 update.

Marbles
For the full article, see Marbles.

Puzzling black and white objects with varying patterns that can be found half-buried deep in caves and very rarely on mountains in Sylva. They emit a faint glow and can be picked up and mounted on double slots. Until Patch 119 only a single one of the orbs, the Zebra Ball, spawned in the world. Two others had been introduced: one with a leopard pattern and another with a checkered pattern.

Debris
Any wreckage found on the planet surface or in caves labeled Debris: Salvage, and can be put into a Medium Shredder, Large Shredder, or Extra Large Shredder to turn it into Scrap. You can trade Scrap with the Trade Platform. Some Debris can be mounted on Tier-2 slots and can be packaged with the Packager. Any wreckage labeled Detritus cannot be shredded or packaged, but can be blown up for smaller pieces.

See Scrap for scrap values.

Broken Platform
A broken Platform. By far the most common are Medium Platform Bs, but Large Platform Bs are occasionally found. A broken platform's attachment slots still function, and they often host broken or rarely intact Modules in their largest slot and sometimes have a Widget attached as well. Their Cable Plugs are usually all broken, but sometimes one is intact (along with the locking feet and power sharing between slots), allowing almost normal use of the Platform. This wreckage can be shredded in the Large or Extra Large Shredder.

Broken Research Catalog
A broken Research Catalog was added before to tease its fixed counterpart's arrival.

Broken Rover
A broken Medium Rover, usually with a broken seat attached. This wreckage can be shredded in a Extra Large Shredder.

Historical Probes
The Historical Probes are objects designed after historic probes and satellites in the real world. They were originally in the game pre-1.0 but were removed until the Wanderer Update added them back in.

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