Akra Manual for Planetary Survival

This guide provides detailed instructions on how to build the Akra Bootstrap Outpost when all you have is a Respawn Pod, hand tools, and a dwindling Oxygen and Power supply.

What is the Akra Bootstrap Outpost?

The Akra Bootstrap Outpost (BO-A) is designed to be the first base to build after landing in a Respawn Pod on a planet or moon. The BO-A is built in several steps working around the restrictions of starting with only a Survival Kit to refine ore and produce components. When built, the Space Engineer will have the tools at hand to start larger engineering efforts. The BO-A provides three landing pads, two Refineries, Assembler, Cargo Containers, Hydrogen generation and Storage, and a 5x1 Welding Strip for Small Grid ship construction.

The construction is broken down into phases:

• Phase 1: Staring out. This phase has different instructions when landing on a planet with an Atmosphere, or a planet without an Atmosphere in a Moon Rover Survival Pod (Moon only). Phase 1 is all about building a Basic Refinery and Basic Assembler to be able to refine Iron Ore, Nickel Ore, and Silicon Ore instead of using Stone.
  
• Phase 2: Build the Stage 1 Bootstrap Outpost. This phase builds the foundation components of the Bootstrap Outpost and continues to expand refining and component assembly capability to build a Refinery. The rest of the Bootstrap Outpost is built off the framework from this phase.
  
• Phase 3: Build out the Base. Start building out the Bootstrap Outpost with an Assembler, Welding strip for welding Small Grid ships, and finally a full size Refinery.
  
• Phase 4: Build a Bootstrap miner ship.
  
• Phase 5: Finish building the Bootstrap Outpost.

The entire base (including the ore used to build the base in Phase 2 and Phase 3) when refined in a Refinery with no Yield Modules is:

Cobalt Ore                             1,520
Iron Ore                             356,750
Nickel Ore                             9,918
Silicon Ore                            5,234
Silver Ore                               900

Subscribe to the blueprints listed below as they will be needed to construct the base. The blueprints can also be placed in a creative world to better understand block placement.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2036872165
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2052542321

This guide, and all Akra Industry and Mining documentation, assumes the following assumptions about the world settings:

• Refinery speed and the Assembler efficiency are set to Realistic. The game default is x3. Less Ore and Ingots will be needed if default settings are used.
  
• The game is in Experimental mode and in-game scripts have been enabled (while not an absolute requirement, scripts run the LCD screens used to display useful inventory information).
  
• The pesky Progression system is enabled.

Phase 1 - Starting in an Atmosphere

Use this section if the Planetary body contains an Atmosphere as Wind Turbines are used for power production. See Phase 1 - Starting without an Atmosphere with a Moon Rover for specialized instructions for that environment.

This phase is all about bootstrapping up to be able to refine Iron, Nickel, and Silicon Ore in a Basic Refinery.

The Akra - Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly (Model A) is used in these instructions to provide initial refining and manufacturing capabilities. The blueprint can be subscribed too and placed in a creative world to better understand how to build it. There's also a video of constructing it on the Steam Workshop, and a video from landing through construction.


━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

  How to Build

• A Quick Build Video is available to show how to place and orient the blocks to build the Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly.
  
• A longer From Landing to End of Phase 1 video is also available showing all steps from landing to the completion of the Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly.
  
• Always keep the Ingot Jobs in the Survival Kit last in the queue in the Survival Kit. This allows components to be assembled whenever ingots are available.
  
• More information about the ore and components required are listed in the Steam Blueprint for the the Akra - Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly (Model A).

Landing

1. Land your Respawn Pod.

Building Medium Cargo Container on Respawn Pod

1. Queue up 4 Computers for a Medium Cargo Container built in Survival Kit.
   
2. Load up a personal inventory of Stone into the Survival kit and queue up a couple thousand Ingots jobs to refine stone.
   
3. Grind down the Passenger Seat and four Atmospheric Thrusters.
   
4. Build a Medium Cargo Container container on the back of Survival kit.
   
5. Load up a second personal inventory of Stone into the Survival kit.

Start Building the Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly "Tower"

1. Grind down 11 Light Armor blocks from Respawn Pod.
   
2. Build a 11 block tall tower of Light Armor Blocks.

Build Basic Refinery on Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly

1. Queue 10 Computers in the Survival Kit on the Respawn Pod (for the Basic Refinery).
   
2. Queue up 2 computers, 24 girders, 10 interior plate (Used to construct the Wind Turbine in the next step)
   
3. Load up a third personal inventory of Stone into the Survival Kit.
   
4. Grind down 100 Light Armor Blocks for 100 Steel plates from Respawn pod.
   
5. Build the Basic Refinery on the Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly.

Build First Wind Turbine on Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly

1. Load up a forth personal inventory of stone into the Survival Kit.
   
2. Load up a first and second personal inventories of Stone into the Basic Refinery.
   
3. Wait for the components to be finished building in the Survival Kit - grind down Light Armor Blocks with any spare time.
   
4. Build a Wind Turbine on the Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly.

Build Basic Assembler on Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly

1. Queue 80 Computers and 4 Displays in the Survival Kit on the Respawn Pod.
   
2. Load up a fifth personal inventory of Stone into the Survival Kit.
   
3. Load up a third and forth personal inventories of Stone into the Basic Refinery.
   
4. Grind down 45 Light Armor Blocks for 45 Steel plates from Respawn pod.
   
5. Build a Basic Assembler on the Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly.
   
6. Move all Ingots from Survival Kit in Respawn Pod to Basic Assembler.
   
7. Move all Components from Medium Cargo Container to Basic Assembler.
   
8. Grind down Medium Cargo Container on Respawn Pod.
   
9. Load up a fifth personal inventories of Stone into the Basic Refinery.

Build Small Cargo Container on Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly

1. Queue 1 Display, 10 Interior Plate, and 20 Small Steel Tubes Computers and 4 Displays in the Basic Assembler.
   
2. Grind down a Landing Gear to right below the "Functional" level then reconstruct to open up the Progression Tree.
   
3. Grind down two Landing Gear for Components.
   
4. Grind down a Corner Light (on the Battery) to right below the "Functional" level then reconstruct to open up the Progression Tree.
   
5. Grind down the Timer to right below the "Functional" level then reconstruct to open up the Progression Tree.
   
6. Grind down the Beacon to right below the "Functional" level then reconstruct to open up the Progression Tree.
   
7. Grind down the Beacon for Components.
   
8. Build a Small Cargo Container on the Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly.

Build Second Wind Turbine on Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly

1. Disassemble 10 Motors for Iron in the Basic Assembler.
   
2. Queue Queue up 2 computers, 24 girders, 10 interior plate in the Basic Assembler.
   
3. Build the second Wind Turbine on the Atmospheric Bootstrap Assembly.

Move to Phase 2

1. Phase 1 of the Akra Manual for Planetary Survival is complete.
   
2. Continue to Phase 2.

Phase 1 - Starting without an Atmosphere on a Moon

Specialized starting instructions are still being written for starting with a Moon Rover. Check back later.

Phase 2 - Stage 1 Bootstrap Outpost Construction

  How to Build

• Subscribe to the blueprint for the Akra - Stage 1 Bootstrap Outpost (Model A)
  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2052542321
  
• Salvage materials from the Respawn Pod. The Medical Components can be salvaged from the Surivial Kit and used to weld the one located on the Bootstrap Outpost.
  
• A Quick Build Video is available to show how to place and orient the blocks.
  
• Do not finish welding the block of any Light Armor or Interior Wall block. The images show the blocks in their final form, but the required materials only account for placing the block and not welding it. Blocks are shown in their final form only to assist in identifying their position.
  
• Find an Iron, Nickel, Silicon Ore, and Cobalt Ore vein and bring ore one load at a time using the Basic Refinery and Basic Assembler built in Phase 1.
  
• Move the Basic Refinery and Basic Assembler from the assembly built in Phase 1 to the new base built in this Phase.
  
• Assuming no components are recovered from the assembly built in Phase 1, about 52,000 kg of Iron Ore, 2,600 kg of Nickel ore, 290 kg of Silicon Ore, and 60 kg of Cobalt Ore is required. No Silver Ore is required assuming the Medical Components are salvaged from the Respawn Pod
  
• Without salvaging any components from the Bootstrap Assembly in Phase 1, the Stage 1 Bootstrap Outpost requires the following amount of Ore refined in a Basic Refinery. Silver is not required as the Medical Components can be salvaged from the Respawn Pod.

Cobalt Ore                                58
Iron Ore                              51,052
Nickel Ore                             2,561
Silicon Ore                              290

1. Place two Light Armor Blocks, a Battery, and a Projector. The bottom most Light Armor Block should be partially in the ground. Make sure to place the Projector so the |-symbol faces forward and the + symbol faces up (see image).
   
   
   
2. Load up the blueprint for this Workshop item into the projector.
   https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2052542321
   
   
3. Weld all the Light Armor Blocks and the Ladders.
   
   
4. Weld the Basic Refinery. The Light Armor Blocks are shown welded only to assist with positioning.
   
   
5. Weld the Small Cargo Container.
   
   
6. Weld the Basic Assembler.
   
   
7. Weld the O2/H2 Generator and the Hydrogen Engine.
   
   
8. Weld the Survival Kit and the two additional Basic Refineries.
   
   
9. Build a couple blocks across the ground away from the base, but still connected, and move the Wind Turbine from the assembly built in Phase 1 to provide power to the base. If Ice is available, the base can also be powered from the Hydrogen made from Ice.

Phase 3 - Build out the Base

  How to Build

• Subscribe to the following blueprint.
  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2036872165
  
• While waiting for Ingots to refine or Components to Assemble, keeping bringing Iron Ore, Nickel Ore, and Silicon Ore to have ore available for refining.
  
• Make sure to keep checking what the Basic Refineries are refining, and don't refine more Nickel Ore, Silicon Ore, or Cobalt Ore then is needed. Iron Ore will always be needed.

1. Load up the blueprint for the Bootstrap Outpost (Model A) into the Projector. Click "Show Only Buildable" and "Keep Projection."
   
2. Build the Curved Conveyor Tube on the O2/H2 Generator and then build the Assembler.
   
   The Assembler will require the following Ore (refined in a Basic Refinery)
   

   Cobalt Ore                               143
   Iron Ore                               8,552
   Nickel Ore                               500
   Silicon Ore                              168
   

   
3. Build the Conveyor Tube below the O2/H2 Generator and the Conveyor Junction below it.
   
4. Build the Refinery.
   The Refinery will require the following Ore (refined in a Basic Refinery)
   

   Cobalt Ore                               286
   Iron Ore                              54,470
   Nickel Ore                               643
   Silicon Ore                                9
   

   
5. Spot weld (use just one Steel Plate) the Light Armor Blocks in the row with the Basic Assembler (6 Steel Plates).
   
6. Spot weld the Light Armor Blocks in the next row (6 Steel Plates).
   
7. Spot weld the Light Armor Blocks in the next row (6 Steel Plates).
   
8. Build one of the Black Corner Lights next to the welders.
   
9. Build Curved Conveyor Tube coming out of the Assembler.
   
10. Build the five Welders.
    
11. Build the 5 Window 1X1 Flat over the Welders.
    
12. Build the yellow Button Panel next to the ladder.
    
13. At this stage, the required Timer Blocks aren't built for the Button Panel to function. However, the console built into the Button Panel can be used to access the Terminal to turn on the *Welders group.

Phase 4 - Build a Bootstrap Miner

Bringing ore back to base by foot or jet pack one personal inventory at a time isn't very efficient. The Bootstrap Outpost now has all the tools needed to build a small grid ship.

Akra Industry and Mining has two miners designed for bootstrap situations. One is designed for Moon gravity (and requires slightly less ore) and the second for gravity up to 1.2g (Pertam).

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2341215077
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2312639449

1. Subscribe to one of the two Bootstrap Miner blueprints. The Sciuro-B is more feature complete when built.
   
2. Each Steam Workshop page has information about the ore and components required to build and instructions and videos on how to build the ships. Build a miner.

Phase 5 - Finish Building the Base

1. Finish building the base. Mine, Refine, Build.
   
2. The entire base (including the ore used to build the base in Phase 2 and Phase 3) when refined in a Refinery with no Yield Modules is:
   

   Cobalt Ore                             1,520
   Iron Ore                             356,750
   Nickel Ore                             9,918
   Silicon Ore                            5,234
   Silver Ore                               900
   

[Saufen]

@TastyChickenLegs Thank you, I really appreciate you taking the time to express that.

[TastyChickenLegs]

That's an impressive guide. Thanks for your work on this.