Discoveries

Discoveries in Astroneer consist of a large number of different scenarios randomly generated throughout the Planets. Offering a range of resources, artifacts, 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 space debris artifacts.

All of these discoveries can be moved with the recourse of winches, except for the Large White Cylindrical Spacecraft (which seems to be too heavy for even a pair of winches working simultaneously). However, loading the game after unearthing them will clear their physics and render them immovable.

Large White Cylindrical Spacecraft
The large white cylindrical spacecrafts always contain a 1-seat 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 Artifacts are scattered around the crash site, partially buried in the ground. It broadcasts a radio signal with a barely audible morse code message.

Solar Arrays
The 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. See Solar Array for more information.

Crashed Pod
The Crashed Pod is small compared to other space objects, making it much harder to spot. It is a single pod with 3 attachment points inside containing resources ranging from common to rare. Commonly, 1-2 Artifacts are scattered around the crash site, partially buried in the ground.

Resource Drop Pod
The Resource Drop Pods generate randomly around your spawn area and throughout Terran. They will always contain two resources, one common and one rare. When you first approach a resource pod it will appear as many white spheres stacked in a triangular-pyramid. Once you're close enough, the top two layers will pop off and the resources within will be revealed.

Hubble Space Telescope
Can be found underground, partially or completely buried. It is a puzzle, for information on how to solve it, see the Satellite page. The reward is a unit of Lithium once the puzzle is completed.

Kepler Space Observatory
Can be found underground, partially or completely buried. Contains an Artifact. Emits a constant modulated tone.

Mariner 10
Can be found underground, partially or completely buried. Contains an Artifact. Emits a constant modulated hum.

New Horizons
Can be found underground, partially or completely buried. Contains an Artifact.

Sputnik
Can be found underground, partially or completely buried. Contains an Artifact.

Voyager
Can be found underground, partially or completely buried. Contains an Artifact.

Dead Explorer
Occasionally in caves you will come across a dead explorer. Most of the time you will only see the backpack on the surface while the body is below it. The backpack always has resources ranging from common to rare. The Backpack is also likely to have Batteries, Oxygen Tanks and Dynamite attached to it.

Giant Bones
A complete and a partial ribcage aswell as a jaw bone containing Artifacts can all be found both above and under ground.

Thruster
Found deep in caves, the Thruster can be mounted on the back of a Rover or Truck and reportedly provides noticeable thrust when driving up steep slopes. For it to work, Hydrazine must be fed to one of the four available slots. It has no fuel tank and simply initiates combustion immediately. Burn lasts for aproximately 10 seconds per unit of Hydrazine.

Zebra Ball
Can be found half-buried deep in the caves. Emits light and can be picked up and mounted on double slots. Officially: a game asset used for physics testing, left in as an easter egg. Unofficially: an eternal omniscient entity of inscrutable capricious nature that appears only to those few among us who prove worthy.

Debris
A variety of small wreckage can be found around Spacecrafts. Some of them can be mounted on double slots or even the player's backpack. Their function, if any, is so far unknown or unimplemented.