Prototype Recovery soft locked?

[TomCatFort]

I think I have soft locked the Prototype Recovery mission.
This is what I did:
- Instead of simply completing the To Parts Unknown mission (the prerequisite of the Protoype Recovery) by placing the oxygenator in the shuttle, I just took it packaged with me to Desolo.
- On Desolo I placed the oxygenator on a platform and used it from there.
- Started exploring Desolo, and near my landing site I found an EXO Cache looking object and a dynamite. (Based on some tutorials I found later, I think this actually was the Vehicle Data Recorder.)
- But without thinking much or noticing a difference, I used the dynamite on it and blew it up.
- Later I have noticed that the To Parts Unknown mission is unfinished and completed it by finally placing the oxygenator in the shuttle.
- Then the Prototype Recovery mission unlocked, but there is no indication for the Vehicle Data Recorder on my compass anywhere. I have tried also looking for it from orbit, driving around the planet, and even restarting the game. But I found nothing and there is still no indicator on the compass.

Is there a solution for this?
Or I can no longer do this quest chain on this save?

[Marck]

Are any of the objectives for mission Prototype Recovery marked as done in the mission log? When you switch the mission to "Tracked" by using the mission log button while the mission is selected, does this maybe make the compass marker appear?

You could also try to find the Material Analysis Transmitter[astroneer.wiki.gg] for this mission; as far as I know, that mission line can also be started by finding the MAT on the surface of Desolo. If you do find it, then slot the required EXO Chip into it and see, if this allows you to continue the mission line.

This seems to be an oversight of System Era. It is possible to complete the game and get to the end credits without ever doing any missions. Thus, it is also possible that the Vehicle Data Recorders are destroyed by the player before any of the Jet Powered missions are started. For example, when a player finds one of the MATs on Desolo or Vesania and only then decides to do the related missions. When those missions are made available in the mission log, the game should check whether the Vehicle Data Recorders still exist. If not, then the mission line should continue with the next step and set the compass marker for the MAT instead.

[TomCatFort]

No, unfortunately none of the mission objectives are marked done.
I also tried changing the "Tracked" status of the mission, but it does not help, the marker does not appear.

I have explored Desolo quite a bit but never found the MAT.
I also done some research in the mean time, and according it, the MAT does not accept the EXO Chip without completing the Prototype Recovery first.
So I'm not sure if I should continue looking forward to it.

[Marck]

If nothing else works, then you should get in contact with the developer, preferably by sending them an email, see https://astroneer.space/support/. Tell them about the issue, and they may help you by adjusting your saved game such that you're able to continue with the mission.

[CubicBerserker]

So I've gone and tested this out and what I've found is that I couldn't actually destroy the Vehicle Data Recorder before I started the Prototype Recovery mission. I tried both with dynamite stuck directly to the data recorder and right next to it.

I also found out you can force start the mission by inspecting the VDR, after that I was able to blow it up and complete the mission. I had already found the MAT beforehand.

I'd guess that maybe what you blew up was just a regular EXO cache after all but that still wouldn't explain the lack of a compass marker.