Thruster - Revision history

Md143rbh7f at 06:40, 12 October 2026

2026-10-12T06:40:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:40, 12 October 2026
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	The speed and acceleration of a space platform are roughly calculated in the following way:		The speed and acceleration of a space platform are roughly calculated in the following way:
	* Each thruster has an [[#Efficiency\|efficiency]] value that depends on its current level of fuel and oxidizer. At higher levels, a thruster produces more thrust but consumes relatively much more fuel and oxidizer.		* Each thruster has an [[#Efficiency\|efficiency]] value that depends on its current level of fuel and oxidizer. At higher levels, a thruster produces more thrust but consumes relatively much more fuel and oxidizer.
	* The total thrust of all thrusters is added together. This is penalised by the space platform's '''drag''', which depends on the platform's weight (or technically, [[#Notes\|mass]]).		* The total thrust of all thrusters is added together. This is penalised by the space platform's '''drag''', which depends on the platform's weight (or technically, [[#Notes\|mass]]) and its current speed. The more massive a platform, and the faster it is travelling, the harder it becomes to increase its speed further.
	* Acceleration is calculated as total thrust minus drag, divided by the platform's mass. Acceleration is evaluated each tick to adjust the platform's speed.		* Acceleration is calculated as total thrust minus drag, divided by the platform's mass. Acceleration is evaluated each tick to adjust the platform's speed.

Md143rbh7f at 06:35, 12 October 2026

2026-10-12T06:35:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:35, 12 October 2026
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	* The total thrust of all thrusters is added together. This is penalised by the space platform's '''drag''', which depends on the platform's weight (or technically, [[#Notes\|mass]]).		* The total thrust of all thrusters is added together. This is penalised by the space platform's '''drag''', which depends on the platform's weight (or technically, [[#Notes\|mass]]).
	* Acceleration is calculated as total thrust minus drag, divided by the platform's mass. Acceleration is evaluated each tick to adjust the platform's speed.		* Acceleration is calculated as total thrust minus drag, divided by the platform's mass. Acceleration is evaluated each tick to adjust the platform's speed.

			It is not possible to directly set a thruster's thrust, and thus a platform's acceleration and speed. Instead, commonly [[pump\|pumps]] and the [[circuit network]] are used to dynamically control the input of fuel or oxidizer, which has a similar effect. It is also possible to simply increase or decrease the number of thrusters on the platform.

	Depending on speed, damaging [[asteroids]] are encountered in greater numbers. This means that defenses should be built before turning on the thrusters, and high thrust requires stronger defense.		Depending on speed, damaging [[asteroids]] are encountered in greater numbers. This means that defenses should be built before turning on the thrusters, and high thrust requires stronger defense.

Md143rbh7f: wrote brief overview of new drag formula, but haven't updated the graphs yet; separated "efficiency" section, which also thankfully wasn't changed in 2.1.21

2026-10-12T06:16:34Z

wrote brief overview of new drag formula, but haven't updated the graphs yet; separated "efficiency" section, which also thankfully wasn't changed in 2.1.21

Show changes

Bilka: Bugfixes are not documented in the history section

2026-10-09T19:01:41Z

Bugfixes are not documented in the history section

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:01, 9 October 2026
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	== History ==		== History ==
	{{~~History~~\|2.1.21\|		{{history\|2.1.21\|
	* Adjusted space platform drag to be based on weight rather than width. [https://forums.factorio.com/136430]		* Adjusted space platform drag to be based on weight rather than width. [https://forums.factorio.com/136430]
	}}		}}

	{{~~History~~\|2.1.7\|		{{history\|2.0.7\|
	* ~~Tooltip Thrust display values multiplied by 60~~ [~~https://forums~~.~~factorio.com/120393]~~		* Introduced in [[Space Age]]{{SA}} expansion.
	}}		}}


	{{SpaceNav}}		{{SpaceNav}}

Md143rbh7f: /* History */ oh boy need to rewrite half this page now

2026-10-06T18:41:43Z

History: oh boy need to rewrite half this page now

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:41, 6 October 2026
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	== History ==		== History ==
			{{History\|2.1.21\|
			* Adjusted space platform drag to be based on weight rather than width. [https://forums.factorio.com/136430]
			}}

	{{History\|2.1.7\|		{{History\|2.1.7\|
	* Tooltip Thrust display values multiplied by 60 [https://forums.factorio.com/120393]		* Tooltip Thrust display values multiplied by 60 [https://forums.factorio.com/120393]

Thruster-fix: /* typo fix */

2026-09-01T19:48:39Z

typo fix

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:48, 1 September 2026
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	The amount of thrust force in MN created by a single thruster is described well in in-game wiki. Multiple sources of thrust stack additively.		The amount of thrust force in MN created by a single thruster is described well in in-game wiki. Multiple sources of thrust stack additively.

	For example, consider a platform with 4 legendary-quality thrusters (<math>I_{thrust}=4\times 15.3\times 1000\text{ MN}\times 1/60\text{ s}=1020\text{ MN}\cdot \text{s}</math>). The width of the platform is 17 tiles (<math>w=17</math>). The mass of the platform is 1002.8 tons (<math>m=1002.8\text{ t}</math>).		For example, consider a platform with 4 legendary-quality thrusters at maximum thrust (<math>I_{thrust}=4\times 15.3\times 1000\text{ MN}\times 1/60\text{ s}=1020\text{ MN}\cdot \text{s}</math>). The width of the platform is 17 tiles (<math>w=17</math>). The mass of the platform is 1002.8 tons (<math>m=1002.8\text{ t}</math>).
	On the trip from Nauvis to Vulcanus, the maximum speed in the first half of the trip (<math>[0\text{ km},7500\text{ km}]</math>) is:		On the trip from Nauvis to Vulcanus, the maximum speed in the first half of the trip (<math>[0\text{ km},7500\text{ km}]</math>) is:

Thruster-fix: /* formulas fix due to https://forums.factorio.com/120393 */

2026-09-01T19:41:31Z

formulas fix due to https://forums.factorio.com/120393

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:41, 1 September 2026
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	=== Formulas ===		=== Formulas ===

	<math>~~F_{net}~~ = ~~F_{thrust} + F_~~{~~drag~~}</math>		<math>I=F\Delta t</math> is impulse per tick, <math>\Delta t=1/60\text{ s}</math>.

	<math>a_{net} = ~~\frac~~{~~F_{net}~~}{m}</math> ~~- acceleration. Change of speed per tick.~~		<math>I_{net} = I_{thrust} + I_{drag}</math>

	<math>F_{drag}\ =-\frac{wv\left(v+60\right)}{4800}-\frac{\left(F_{thrust}m\right)}{m+10000}\ -10</math>		<math>\Delta v_{net} = \frac{I_{net}}{m}</math> - Change of speed per tick.

			<math>I_{drag}\ =-\frac{wv\left(v+60\right)}{4800}-\frac{\left(I_{thrust}m\right)}{m+10000}\ -10</math>

	where:		where:
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	* ''m'' - mass of a platform, in tons		* ''m'' - mass of a platform, in tons
	* ''v'' - speed parameter, in km/s, can't be below zero. Actual current speed of a platform is v-10 in first half and v+10 in the second half of a trip.		* ''v'' - speed parameter, in km/s, can't be below zero. Actual current speed of a platform is v-10 in first half and v+10 in the second half of a trip.
	* <math>F_{thrust}</math> - thrust, in MN.		* <math>I_{thrust}</math> - impulse per tick due to thrust, in<math>\text{ MN}\cdot \text{s}</math>. For example, a normal-quality thruster at maximum thrust produces an impulse per tick: <math>I_{thrust}=F_{thrust}\Delta t=6100\text{ MN}\times 1/60\text{ s}=101.667\text{ MN}\cdot \text{s}</math>.

	As formulas above, the drag increases quadratically with velocity, like in real world when moving through low density gas. When drag becomes equal to thrust force, acceleration stops, a platform hits its top speed.		As formulas above, the drag increases quadratically with velocity, like in real world when moving through low density gas. When drag becomes equal to thrust force, acceleration stops, a platform hits its top speed.
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	That formulas combined give		That formulas combined give
	<math>v_{max}=10\sqrt{\frac{\frac{~~480000F_~~{thrust}}{m+10000}-480}{w}+9}-30</math>		<math>v_{max}=10\sqrt{\frac{\frac{480000I_{thrust}}{m+10000}-480}{w}+9}-30</math>

	plus/minus 10 for actual maximum speed.		plus/minus 10 for actual maximum speed.

	The amount of thrust force in MN created by a single thruster is described well in in-game wiki. Multiple sources of thrust stack additively.		The amount of thrust force in MN created by a single thruster is described well in in-game wiki. Multiple sources of thrust stack additively.

			For example, consider a platform with 4 legendary-quality thrusters (<math>I_{thrust}=4\times 15.3\times 1000\text{ MN}\times 1/60\text{ s}=1020\text{ MN}\cdot \text{s}</math>). The width of the platform is 17 tiles (<math>w=17</math>). The mass of the platform is 1002.8 tons (<math>m=1002.8\text{ t}</math>).
			On the trip from Nauvis to Vulcanus, the maximum speed in the first half of the trip (<math>[0\text{ km},7500\text{ km}]</math>) is:

			<math>v_{max,first}=10\sqrt{\frac{\frac{480000\times 1020}{1002.8+10000}-480}{17}+9}-30-10=469.73\text{ km}/\text{s}</math>

			The maximum speed in the second half of the trip (<math>[7500\text{ km},15000\text{ km}]</math>) is:

			<math>v_{max,second}=(v_{max,first}+10)+10=489.73\text{ km}/\text{s}</math>

	== Trivia ==		== Trivia ==

Eugenekay: Add History

2026-07-20T13:54:26Z

Add History

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:54, 20 July 2026
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	File:Thrusters in Map View.png\|Thruster trails are visible on the zoomed-out map view		File:Thrusters in Map View.png\|Thruster trails are visible on the zoomed-out map view
	</gallery>		</gallery>

			== History ==
			{{History\|2.1.7\|
			* Tooltip Thrust display values multiplied by 60 [https://forums.factorio.com/120393]
			}}


	{{SpaceNav}}		{{SpaceNav}}

Cardinal: Style&wording.

2026-01-27T07:49:46Z

Style&wording.

Show changes

Rumpuslabs at 03:34, 27 January 2026

2026-01-27T03:34:54Z

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 = Rules of thumb =
 * Platform width is far more important than mass in determining top speed (and therefore travel time).
 * Thrust has diminishing returns in either thrusters or fuel, unless you add both.
 == Width dominates mass ==
@@ Line 36: / Line 40: @@
 File:Thrust-vs-fully-fueled-thrusters.png|thumb|alt=Graph showing total thrust and maximum speed versus number of thrusters, both scaled to 100% at one thruster. Thrust rises as a straight line, while speed rises more slowly and curves downward, indicating slowly diminishing returns.|With full fuel per thruster, thrust scales linearly with thruster count, while speed increases with some diminishing returns due to drag.
 </gallery>
 = Details =