Elite Dangerous is an expansive and complex space simulation game from Frontier Developments that allows players to explore a procedurally generated galaxy in their own spaceships. Within this galaxy, there are more than 400 billion star systems with thousands of planets to explore. As exciting as interplanetary travel and exploration are in Elite Dangerous, it can be a bit daunting if you don’t know the basics of landing on planets in the game. Whether you’re a seasoned player or totally new to Elite Dangerous, here’s a quick guide on exactly how to land on planets successfully in the game.
Preparing for Landing
Landing on planets in Elite Dangerous can be a daunting task, but with the proper preparation, it can be a rewarding experience. Planning your approach is the key to a smooth landing. To begin, you must look at the basic techniques you can use to approach the planet’s surface. You must also consider the different types of terrain and other environmental factors that you may encounter during your landing. With the right strategy and proper execution, you will be able to safely land on planets in Elite Dangerous.
Check your ship’s landing gear
Before attempting to land on a planet in Elite Dangerous, it is important to ensure that your ship has the proper landing gear fitted. All ships produced after 3302 come with built-in landing gear, making it easy to land in most situations. If you are flying an older model of a ship, such as an Anaconda or Imperial Cutter, it may need to be outfitted with upgrades such as docking computer and extended probes so that you can safely land.
Once your ship is ready for the voyage, you should also make sure you have ample long range and short range scanners which will help you identify any obstacles or destination points on the surface of the planet before attempting to touch down. Additionally, aligning your facing view by taking into consideration atmospheric density and traffic patterns near the planetary body will assist in ensuring a smooth and successful landing experience.
Check your fuel levels
Before attempting to land on a rocky planet, it is important that you check your fuel levels. It’s also important to make sure that you have enough energy to land successfully. You need to plan ahead before planning any landing because the safety of your ship depends on it.
Checking the amount of fuel in your ship is accomplished by looking at the lower left section of the panels in the cockpit. The amount of fuel required for each mission will vary somewhat depending on factors such as engine efficiency, navigation difficulty, and distance from a target point; however you should have at least twice as much as necessary for each mission.
In addition to tracking fuel usage, new pilots should keep an eye on their energy levels at all times during planet-landing attempts. If your energy level drops close to 15%, or reaches 0%, it’s time for a rethinking about current course and possible solutions to arrive safely through unpredictable terrain and unexpected obstacles. As you move closer towards landing targets, monitor both fuel and energy levels meticulously; after all, they could determine the success or failure of your landing approach!
Adjust your speed
The final step to a successful landing on a planet in Elite Dangerous is to adjust your ship’s speed. You’ll need to slow down your ship to the correct speed, as going too fast may make you overshoot your target and cause unwanted damage to your vessel. Slowing down your ship will also limit the amount of time you spend in dangerous atmosphere conditions and decrease the wear and tear on your ship’s engines.
In order to safely adjust your speed, use both vertical and lateral thrusters to slow your ship until the display shows that you are hovering at 0m Drop (zero gravity). When preparing for landing it’s important not to fire any main thrusters too early or else you might accidentally reach high speeds which could be difficult or even impossible to stop in atmospheric conditions. To avoid issues with runaway thrust, turn off all forward momentum before adjusting speed.
Once you’ve established hover mode, use the throttle percentage bar or Hotas control knob/sliders (depending on whether or not you have a HOTAS flight stick) to further slow down until you can approach at a safe landing speed for planetary conditions (this speed varies depending on planet type). Make sure that during descent the throttle is kept within certain boundaries; depending on wind speeds and turbulence levels, anything above 0-2% thrust can cause instability problems so it’s best practice that this be monitored throughout procedure. When these elements are managed correctly, safe touchdown should soon follow with no damage done!
Entering the Atmosphere
When navigating the vast expanses of space, you may come across a variety of planets ripe for landing in Elite Dangerous. Landing on a planet requires careful planning and finesse to enter the atmosphere and land safely on its surface. Before you attempt to make planetfall, let’s take a look at some of the steps needed including adjusting your speed, angle of approach and more.
Activate your ship’s heat shield
Before attempting to land on a planet, it is essential to activate your ship’s heat shield. Elite Dangerous has two different types of heat shields – Heat Shield Power Cells (HSPCs) and Passive Heat Shields (PHSs). The HSPCs are a powerful tool and enable you to travel peaceful through deep space, while the PHSs provide protection against any heat generated during planetary entry.
When the HSPCs are in use, they store energy gathered from other celestial objects and make it available for your ship’s propulsion systems. They also act as an effective thermal barrier between your ship and any harmful radiation or extreme temperature gradients that may be present near planets such as in atmospheres or on their surfaces.
The PHSs provide basic shielding from air friction and other extreme temperatures encountered during descent. The PHS will degrade fairly rapidly but there is some protection for short-term exposure that helps limit any potential damage associated with the landing procedure. Additionally, the antimatter tank is protected by this layer of insulation which increases reliability of your systems during entry into a planetary atmosphere.
Once you have activated both shields, designate a landing site either by following advice from Instance Pilots or designating targets manually with the nav panel in order to maximize accuracy when flying close to gravity fields and moons. It is important to ensure that all protective shields remain active until safe landing has been achieved – only then can you deactivate these systems and enjoy all that awaits you on new planets!
Descend slowly
When entering an atmosphere on a planet, it’s important to take the time to prepare. You should make sure the planet is in range, there are no hostiles present and that you’ve taken all the necessary precautions for entry.
The best way to enter a planet’s atmosphere is to descend slowly. To do this, use your throttle setting and turn down the speed of your ship until you have achieved minimal speed hit. This will decrease the damage to your ship as you enter as well as give you more time to react and adjust any further vital controls if needed.
It’s also important to be aware of what angle your ship is entering at, as this will determine how you’ll move throughout the atmosphere. Try to come in at a slightly descending angle—unless instructed otherwise by mission control—where each degree will reduce air resistance, resulting in less heat buildup around your ship upon entry.
Finally, remain aware of what type of environment your ship is entering—is it corrosive or extreme? Some planets may require specific considerations; such as a very specific orientation or special modifications made prior arrival. Being reactive and having contingency plans available can avoid potential failure while attempting planet entry and ensure a successful landing when exploring Elite Dangerous’ many beautiful planets!
Adjust your pitch and roll
Adjusting your pitch and roll is the primary step to a successful planetary landing in Elite Dangerous. It will take some practice to become used to the controls and get into the correct position; however, it is essential that you do so in order to reduce the chance of any serious issues while landing.
When entering the atmosphere, ensure that you pitch your craft slightly downward approximately 15-25 degrees. This angle will make sure your entry speed is low enough to prevent too much drag on your ship while entering. Upon entering, use a slow and steady retro-thrust motion to stay stable during entry. Once you’re at an altitude of 5000meters or lower, it becomes important for you to adjust both your pitch and roll angles in order for the ship’s engines to align with both gravity and the atmosphere density.
At around 5000meters, begin adjusting your craft’s pitch down towards 0 degrees over a few seconds time frame if needed in order for all engine thrusts facing downwards before descending further towards ground level so as to not waste fuel when exiting atmo. Then, adjust your roll so your ship should have all thrusters pointing in downwards as well as sideways directions providing downwards thrust from air friction and air pressure respectively . Yourcraft’s HUD will also indicate where exactly thrusts needto face along with howmany levels ofthrottlesettings (Heavy/Medium/Light) are required during descent.By doing these two adjustments correctly,you should be ableto smoothly descendtowards planet’s surface with biographical stabilityand accuracywhile minimizing any amountdoableheat damagefromdynamic atmosphericdrag & throttle burnout.
Landing on the Planet
Landing on a planet in Elite Dangerous can be a nerve-wracking experience, but it’s a great way to explore the game world and find resources for your ship. With the right preparation and a few simple steps, you can make a safe and successful landing on any planet. So let’s take a look at the steps you need to take to make a safe planet landing in Elite Dangerous.
Use your ship’s thrusters to slow your descent
When you reach the outskirts of a planet’s atmosphere, it is time to start using your ship’s thrusters to slow your descent. To do this, maintain an altitude between 20 and 40km above the surface of the planet, and maintain a speed of around 250 to 300m/s.
As you begin to move further into the planet’s atmosphere, you must adjust your thruster settings and maintain a constant downward velocity while keeping the same altitude (20-40km). Keep in mind that if your speed exceeds 1000m/s in any direction (up, down or any other) – this can result in significant heat generation and damage your ship.
The optimal way to enter a planet’s atmosphere requires patience. If at any point you feel that you are about to lose control of your ship, apply all available thrusting thrusters briefly in the opposite direction – this will slow down your descent significantly without risking overexposure to heat. Once you have reached the desired altitude (20-40km), use manual controls or autopilot if available ,to further reduce longitudinal velocity and bring it back down between 250 and 350m/s – this should enable a safe descent while avoiding overheating due to friction with planetary atmosphere. As you near the ground, be sure to check for high external temperatures that could adversely affect your craft’s performance – as well as any tall buildings or cliffs on which you may crash!
Once satisfied that everything is in order, keep an eye on both attitude control systems and lateral thruster control (LTC) systems – these will affect how accurately you touch down on landing pads or other designated zones. A successful landing or docking process requires good precision with these two systems; monitor each one individually for optimal performance. Additionally make sure there are no external obastacles such as outcrops by hovering over them prior attemting landing . Double check both systems when nearing an area designated for landing – once satisfied make sure lateral thrust system are set at proper position . Finally applying full reverse tusters simultaneously engage reverse gear whwn necessary . This will ensure safe contact with terrain without excessive debris movements.
Aim for a flat landing zone
When trying to land on planets, the most important thing you can do is aim for a flat landing zone. If your ship has a good navigation system, it should automatically calculate the best and safest place for you to land, but if you’re new to flying in Elite Dangerous, then you’ll have to rely on your intuition. Look for wide open areas which are nice and level and not crossed by any mountains or steep terrain. Also try to look for features that aren’t too far away from the planet’s pole so that your ship’s engines don’t have to work harder when it comes time to take off.
Before touching down on the planet, be sure to switch your oxygen levels off or else you may encounter oxygen toxicity while on the ground. Make sure you’re cruising at a low speed before attempting a landing as too much speed can cause damage upon impact or lead you into dangerous ground formations like jagged rocks or trees. Additionally, reduce power gradually as your craft nears its destination so that it can safely descend with minimal thrust and fuel expenditure.
When all is said and done, locked-in co-ordinates should make landing simple – just keep an eye out for any unexpected obstacles such as other ships in the area. As long as everything goes according to plan then there should be nothing holding back from getting down onto the planet’s surface!
Deploy your ship’s landing gear
Once you enter a planetary body’s atmosphere, deploy your ship’s landing gear for a safe landing. Deploying your gear will lower the profile of your ship, making it easier to make quick turns and better maneuverability in the atmosphere. Make sure to keep an eye on how much fuel you have as you descend. Once on the ground, monitor the environment and adjust your ship’s landing gear accordingly. As you move around, be careful not to make any extreme maneuvers that could spin your ship out of control and cause your destruction!
Different planets may be more hospitable than others, and it’s important to always check the planet conditions before attempting a landing. If there are hazardous weather conditions or strong winds, it would be wise to postpone or avoid landing there until more suitable conditions become available.
In some cases, hazardous planets may have undesirable surface features (e.g. salt flats or lava) that can make it difficult for landers to stay grounded. Be sure to save fuel until you are safely on the ground so that you don’t run out of power mid-air! You can also take advantage of elliptical orbits if needed in order to account for rough terrain or dangerous obstacles as well as help save fuel during descent/landing maneuvers.
