The mission

• A survey probe is flying out through the Solar System, and two alien Artifacts, Alpha and Beta, are hidden somewhere among the planets. Score points by sending in sets of telemetry, steering the probe, and capturing the Artifacts.
• 2 to 4 players. The first to 100 points (or 200 for a long game) wins.

The cards

• 60 Telemetry cards: six for each of ten bodies, Mercury out to Pluto. The number in the corner is the body's place on the track, 1 to 10.
• 15 Mission Control cards: special actions.
• 2 Artifacts, 10 points each.

Setting up

• The two Artifacts and 8 random cards are hidden face down, one under each body. The probe starts at Mercury.
• Each player gets 10 cards (2 players), 9 (3 players) or 8 (4 players). One card is turned up to start the discard pile.

Your turn

• Draw one card: from the deck, or the top card of the discard pile.
• Play as much as you like:
  • a set: three or more cards of the same body, in front of you. The probe then moves one step outward;
  • a lay-off: one or more cards of a body that already has a set on the table (anyone's). You then move the probe one step either way. Lay off two cards together for one move, or one at a time for two moves;
  • one Mission Control card per turn: draw 2 cards, or take any card from the discard pile, or look under any body (take the card or leave it).
• Discard one card to end your turn. You must always keep a card to discard.

The probe

• Cards played at the body where the probe is are a close pass: they score 4 points each instead of 2, and are marked with a cyan glow and a ×2 badge.
• Whenever you play cards of a body you look at the card hidden under it. A normal card you may take into your hand or leave. An Artifact you must leave, unless the probe is there: then you capture it!
• The probe stops at Mercury and Pluto: it never leaves the track.

End of a hand

• The hand ends when someone discards their last card (goes out), or when the last card of the deck is drawn (that player finishes their turn).
• Score 2 points per card in front of you, 4 per close-pass card, 10 per Artifact. Cards left in your hand don't count against you.
• Going out earns a bonus equal to the probe's position: 1 at Mercury, up to 10 at Pluto.
• Full contact: if you go out holding both Artifacts, everyone else scores nothing that hand.

Keyboard

• D draw from the deck · T take the top discard
• Click cards to select them, then Enter to play them (or discard a single card) · C clear the selection
• ← / → move the probe · H hint

Tips

• Use Mission Control cards quickly: they can't go in sets, and they clog your hand.
• Steer the probe with lay-offs to set up a close pass, or to sit on a body where you know an Artifact is hidden.
• The race to go out matters: the hand ends for everyone the moment someone does.