Greetings! I’m Ash, and in this guide, I’ll walk you through the key strategies for conquering Factorio’s Space Age expansion. Launching into space can feel daunting at first—but with the right preparation and smart planning, you’ll be building interplanetary empires in no time. Let’s break it down.

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1. Super-Size and Automate Your Base

The Space Age demands scale and resilience.

• Expand Aggressively: Clear out biters and establish robust mining outposts with a reliable train network.
• Automate Everything: Your base should be capable of rebuilding and restocking itself—critical when you’re off-world.
• Remote Defense: Set up remote-controlled vehicles and defenses to keep your home base safe while you explore the galaxy.

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2. Overprepare Before You Travel

Starting on a new planet is harder than it looks. Always bring more than you think you’ll need.

• Bring Advanced Materials: Include late-game items for fast ramp-up.
• Stock Basic Essentials: Belts, inserters, assemblers, bots, power poles, furnaces—don’t rely on local resources right away.
• Optional Lifeline: Consider packing for a rocket silo to create an escape route.

It’s better to be overprepared than stranded.

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3. Gear Up for Asteroid Fields

Every space trip means flying through asteroid belts—don’t take them lightly.

• Install Gun Turrets: Turrets are your best defense early on.
• Automate Ammo Production: Set up ammo crafting on your space platform for continuous defense.
• Research Upgrades: Invest in turret and ammo upgrades to survive longer trips.

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4. Use the In-Game Wiki Often

Factorio’s in-game wiki is an incredible tool—use it constantly.

• Quick Access: ALT + Left Click any item to see recipes and dependencies.
• Stay on Track: The wiki helps you understand production chains, especially for unfamiliar Space Age materials.

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5. Save Early, Save Often

Space travel can be unpredictable.

• Manual Saves: Always create manual saves before traveling or making major structural changes.
• Avoid Setbacks: Don’t rely solely on autosaves—you may not notice mistakes until it’s too late.

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6. Take Advantage of Quality Modules

The new quality system is powerful—but only if you use it right.

• Insert Quality Modules: These increase output quality over time when placed in machines.
• Automate Core Materials: Ensure a steady supply of items like copper and steel to keep quality production flowing.
• Sort and Use Intelligently: Filter high-quality products for special use cases (like space exploration or high-efficiency builds).

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7. Build and Manage Space Platforms

Your space platforms are mobile bases and logistics hubs.

• Create Multiple Platforms: Use them to ferry critical materials between worlds efficiently.
• Build One in Nauvis Orbit: Ideal for white science production and satellite-based logistics.

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8. Use Simple Circuit Networks

Circuit logic can streamline your base like never before.

• Set Smart Conditions: For example, only produce ammo when stock is low.
• Control Waste: Manage spoilable or low-priority items with circuit-based filtering.

Even basic circuits can massively improve efficiency.

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9. Pick Your First Planet Wisely

Each planet has its own quirks—plan accordingly.

• Fulgora: Excellent for electronics and mech suits, but recyclers must be managed carefully.
• Vulcanus: Rich in resources, making it great for launching trade fleets and platforms.
• Gleba: High challenge, with spoilage mechanics and complex logistics—not beginner-friendly.

Start smart to build momentum.

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Final Thoughts

Factorio: Space Age is a marathon, not a sprint. You’ll make mistakes. Things will break. But that’s the beauty of Factorio—learning, optimizing, and evolving. Whether it takes you 30 hours or 300, enjoy the process of building your interstellar legacy.

Thanks for reading! If this guide helped, feel free to share it and let me know how your galactic empire is coming along.
Happy building, Commander! 🛠🚀

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