You pilot the Scout Ship. It's a relic, but it's yours. AstroLift is built for a controller — nudge the Right Stick forward to fire your thrusters and the Left Stick to swing your nose left or right. Keyboard pilots aren't left out: every action has a key too. Your mission begins at the Starting Pad. Don't linger; time is literally money (ours, not yours).
Landing Button Stations are vital. Land your ship directly on the button to initiate refueling. In most sectors, these stations also provide the authorization needed to deactivate Laser Gates blocking your path. If it's glowing cyan, it's a friend. If it's red, it's a problem.
To unlock advanced gates, you'll need Space Goo. Fly to a Goo Source, pick up the container, and deliver it to the Colony Hub. Once they're sufficiently 'slimed,' they'll open the path. Note: Goo is heavy and highly volatile. Try not to explode.
The Minimap (Bottom Right) shows immediate threats and objectives. Red icons are enemies, Green is fuel/repairs, Magenta is Goo, and Orange hexagons are Colonies.
Press View / Back on the controller (or M / Tab on the keyboard) to open the full Level Map. The game pauses while it's open, so studying it costs you nothing — no fuel, no time, no risk.
1. Scout. Open the map and look before you leap. Fuel depots, colonies and Goo sources are all marked (see the legend above). Note the closest ones — that's your lifeline chain.
2. Mark. Move the cursor over a spot worth visiting and drop a Waypoint. You can place several and even rename them, so flag your fuel stop, your Goo pickup, and the exit in the order you'll hit them.
3. Follow. Close the map and a glowing beacon plus a screen-edge arrow (with live distance) points straight at your active waypoint. Fly the arrow and you fly the shortest path — no aimless wandering, no fuel bleed.