Post by Paffnia on Apr 18, 2020 18:10:55 GMT -5

Simplified* Steps to Launch a Lunar Probe (Cheaper):
1. Buy all Stage I shop items (3 Rocket Boosters; 1 of each other item)
2. Launch your rocket here
2. Launch your rocket here
Simplified Steps to Launch a Moon Base/Claim a Moon Colony (Gets a Spot on the Moon Map):
1. Buy all Stage I and II shop items (3 Rocket Boosters; 1 of each other item)
2. Optional: buy and use space telescope(s) here to reveal moon territories
3. Optional: buy Science or Economy items (up to 6 combined) to increase chances of launch success or funds returned, respectively
4. Optional: enter a space race with another nation here
5. Launch your rocket here
2. Optional: buy and use space telescope(s) here to reveal moon territories
3. Optional: buy Science or Economy items (up to 6 combined) to increase chances of launch success or funds returned, respectively
4. Optional: enter a space race with another nation here
5. Launch your rocket here
Links
Chief Executive Markanite addressed the region at the dawn of the Islands Space Age: "We choose to go to the moon! We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard!" So, do you have the right stuff to reach for the stars? Here's how:
Moon Map
The moon map is available here. As you can see, our current ground-based telescopes can only capture low-resolution images of the lunar surface. Successful lunar probes and colonies, however, will publicly reveal areas of the moon in full resolution, including the names of major lunar features.
Stage I
Nations must buy all the shop items in Stage I before attempting a launch, using a space telescope, or buying any further space shop items. To complete Stage I, you must buy three Rocket Boosters and one each of all the other Stage I shop items.
Lunar Probes
A lunar probe lands on the surface of the moon, samples rocks, and publicly reveals a small area of the moon map. Nations can land a lunar probe in any territory on the moon, including both unrevealed territories and territories already colonized by another nation. To launch a lunar probe, first buy it under the Extras category.
Lunar probes are open to all but are designed as a cheaper option for newer spacefaring nations. A lunar probe is not necessary for Stage II nor for a lunar colony.
* Lunar probe launches can also use space telescopes, Science and Economy shop items, and space races (described below). However, doing so may make them significantly more expensive.
Stage II and Lunar Colonies
To set up a permanent moon base and earn a spot on the moon map, a nation should purchase all of the Stage I and Stage II shop items and then schedule a launch here. Lunar colonies/moon bases can only be set up in unoccupied territories on the moon map.
Launches
T-minus 10...9...
Launches are, of course, how you get to space. Launches are made monthly. To schedule a launch, post here, which also details how launches work and the order of launches each month.
Chances of success: Lunar probes have a 65% chance of successfully landing on the moon for every launch. Because they are more complex, lunar colonies only have a 50% chance of success every launch. For lunar colonies only, a nation's first three failed launches will result in one of their space shop items worth less than 100,000

Economic boost: The space program has a booster effect on a nation's economy. After a successful space launch, a nation will receive back between 5% and 20% of the total funds spent on space shop items to date, selected randomly.
Space Telescopes
After purchasing all of the Stage I items, nations can buy as many space telescopes as desired. Each space telescope allows a nation to get a private, full-resolution view of one lunar territory. If you want to know the landscape or names of prominent features before claiming a lunar territory, use a telescope or telescopes first. Space telescopes do not require a launch. To use a space telescope, post here.
Science and Economy Items
Nations can purchase two categories of optional items: Science and Economy. Each Science item increases the chance of a successful launch by 5 percentage points. Each Economy item increases the amount of funds received after a successful launch by 5 percentage points. Nations with more of these items combined get priority in how the monthly launches are ordered, detailed here. Nations may only buy 6 Science and Economy items combined.
Space Races
Scientific exploration of space isn't a competition...except when it is. Two nations can get into a space race here. Both nations must agree to be in a space race. Space races must be for one type of launch at a time, lunar colony or lunar probe.
The first nation in a space race to have a successful launch of the selected type will get a 10 percentage point boost in the amount of funds received after the launch. The loser will have their chance of success for all future launch attempts of the selected type drop by 10 percentage points.
Notes
- Nations are limited to one successful lunar probe and one successful space colony. Nations are allowed both.
- Space items do not count toward Mortimer Reports/do not earn AMWERP payments. Do not record them in your ordinary shop item purchase list thread.
- Nations are subject to removal from the moon map after ceasing to exist on NationStates or after failing to post on the forum for a year, except for Knights of TITO, who always remain on the map.
- Only resident nations of XKI, not corporate accounts, etc., can have a space program.