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A new idea I had because of the large automation update, players may be struggling for power. So to compensate, a new generator run by a new fuel, helium-3, based on the real nuclear fusion concept. This new generator would be able to handle an enormous base with no trouble and the main trade-off would be the super advanced materials needed to construct the reactor and the method of acquiring the helium-3 wouldn’t be easy to allow other generators to continue as currently designed. (The idea comes from another space game that talks about this concept)

Note: This thread contains revised content from previous thread of mine; found here. It contained outdated information, and elements that don’t apply for the current game state (0.10.2.0 Update). Resources Sperrylite Smelter processing into Platinum Alternative trade resource Sale value of 16 Gas Hydrate Alternative source of gasses (other being condensing ambient atmosphere with Atmospheric Condenser) Found in terrain; deposit types include Hydrogen, Argon, Methane, Nitrogen, Helium, Sulfur, and Ethane Chemistry Lab uses two bundles of Hydrate = one canister of respective gas Ethane produces doubled energy output in Small Generator; triple energy output in Medium Generator Isotopes Tritium Chemistry Lab uses one Hydrogen canister and two Lithium = one Tritium (hydrogen-3) canister Deuterium Either found as a deposit, or made from one Hydrogen canister, one Organic, and one Ammonium = one Deuterium (hydrogen-2) canister Modules & Equipment Atomic Battery = 1 Tritium Canister + 1 Titanium + 1 Silicone Roughly size of canister when expanded Provides 100.0 Bars at 2.0A Great for late game solution to portable power (widget compatible) Fusion Reactor = 2 Steel + 1 Titanium Alloy + 1 Tungsten Carbide Attachment space for one Tritium canister and one Deuterium canister Produces 300.0 Bars at 4.0A Flywheel = 1 Tungsten + 1 Steel + 1 Titanium Alloy Large, powerful immobile energy storage (non-lithium based); uses Large Platform Stores 1.5 the amount of energy produced by a Fusion Reactor (450.0 Bars); provides at 2.0A Scrubber = 1 Filter + 1 Plastic + 1 Aluminum Alloy Acts as indefinite oxygen supply when powered; backpack compatible, working in the widget slot Greatly benefited by equipping Atomic Battery Vital late game upgrade for Astroneers needing medium-term independence from external oxygen supply; without burning through resources Dampener / Fall Preventer / Airbag = 1 Plastic + 1 Silicone When equipped to a widget slot, it halves damage received from falls and impacts In an emergency, the canister deploys a personal airbag hemispheral cocoon from an Astroneer’s Backpack, so as as to dampen the force of impact After impact, the airbag deflates and retracts back into the attachment housing

Resources Sperrylite Smelter processing into Platinum Trade resource Sale value of 16 Gas Hydrate Fuel Condenser processing fills Canisters with Liquid Propane Liquid Propane produces doubled energy output in Small Generator; triple energy output in Medium Generator Isotope Smelter processing fills Canisters with Tritium (hydrogen-3) Fuel Condenser processing fills Canisters with Helion (helium-3) Modules & Equipment Atomic Battery = Tritium Canister + Copper Roughly size of canister Provides 100.0 Bars at 2.0A Spent batteries can be used as substitute for Fuel Condenser Helion production Great for late game solution to portable power (widget compatible) Fusion Reactor = Iron + Titanium Attachment space for four Helion Canisters Produces 6x Power Stack equivalent per canister Flywheel = Tungsten + Copper Large, powerful immobile energy storage (non-lithium based) Stores twice the amount of energy produced by a Fusion Reactor; provides at 2.0A Scrubber Printed using Filters Acts as indefinite oxygen supply when powered Greatly benefited by equipping Atomic Battery Vital late game upgrade for Astroneers needing medium-term independence from external oxygen supply; without burning through resources Other (For possible future addition of Space Stations) Space Elevator Solution to fuel demands late game May use rare resources, but allows for movement of larger objects into space Bulk trading using docking spacecraft with station (late game resource procurement)

Astroneer should incorporate a fusion reactor. It should be an item that is researched in several steps and runs on an ultra rare fuel such as astronium. The advantage of a fusion reactor is with a tiny amount of fuel it would make lots of energy, for example one astronium could yield 50 times more energy than one coal. This would make the fuel source very desirable and thus highly sought after. This would also complement future economy/trade aspects of the game. Ideally the fusion reactor should not be miniaturized, having ridiculous amounts of energy available in the backup would break the game in my opinion. Thus the reactor should be large (like 10 resin's large) and built in several steps, designed to power a large base, underground mining operation or spaceship. A large spaceship with fusion could use other sources of propulsion such as massive ion drives. The fusion reactor approach would be much more fun than grinding for hydrazine or equivalent, and would still require occasionally locating the ultra rare fuel source.