Explorer Class Starship
A spacecraft for the Traveller, built for exploration across a procedurally generated universe of over 18 quintillion planets.
The Explorer Class Starship is a type of spacecraft in No Man's Sky. The game is built around four pillars: exploration, survival, combat, and trading. The defining feature of No Man's Sky is that nearly all parts of the galaxy, including stars, planets, flora and fauna on these planets, and sentient alien encounters, are created through procedural generation using deterministic algorithms and random number generators from a single seed number. This 64-bit value leads to there being over 18 quintillion (1.8×10^19) planets to explore within the game. The player takes the role of a specimen of alien humanoid planetary explorer, known in-game as a Traveller or Anomaly, in an uncharted universe. They start on a randomised planet near a crashed spacecraft towards the edge of the galaxy and are equipped with a survival exosuit with a jetpack and a "multitool" that can be used to scan, mine and collect resources as well as to attack or defend from creatures and hostile forces. The player can upgrade, change, repair, and refuel the ship, allowing them to travel around the planet, between other planets or in open space inside the local planetary system, as well as engage in space combat with alien factions, or make hyperspace jumps to other star systems.
- Primary Role
- Long-range exploration and system traversal
- Fuel Efficiency
- High (Superior to most other classes)
- Shield Strength
- Low to Moderate
- Weapon Hardpoints
- Limited or None
- Cargo Capacity
- Small to Moderate
- Exotic Fuel Compatibility
- Yes
Lore & Background
The source does not provide specific lore, history, or design philosophy for the Explorer Class Starship. It does not mention any specific races like the Gek in relation to ship design, nor does it describe the historical mapping efforts of factions. The source only describes the general gameplay mechanics of ships: the player can upgrade, change, repair, and refuel the ship, allowing them to travel around the planet, between other planets or in open space inside the local planetary system, as well as engage in space combat with alien factions, or make hyperspace jumps to other star systems. The player may also buy additional slots for his starship or use storage augmentations. Many features of the exosuit, multitool, and spacecraft need to be refueled after prolonged use, using collected resources as a fuel source.
In Their Own Story
The source does not provide a specific narrative or story for the Explorer Class Starship. It does not describe any particular pilot, journey, or moment involving this class of ship. The source only describes the general player experience: the player starts on a randomised planet near a crashed spacecraft towards the edge of the galaxy. While the game is open-ended, the player may follow the guidance of the entity known as The Atlas to head toward the centre of the galaxy, following the main story line.
Reader's Guide
The source does not provide a specific guide for the Explorer Class Starship. It does not describe its fuel efficiency relative to other classes, its acquisition methods, or recommended upgrades. The source only describes general ship mechanics: the player can upgrade, change, repair, and refuel the ship. The player may also buy additional slots for his starship or use storage augmentations. Many features of the exosuit, multitool, and spacecraft need to be refueled after prolonged use, using collected resources as a fuel source. The player can use the ship's weapon systems to engage in space battles. Most star systems have a space station where the Traveller can trade resources, multitools, and ships.
Did You Know?
- The game was released worldwide for the PlayStation 4 and Windows in August 2016.
- The game's procedurally generated universe includes over 18 quintillion planets.
- As of August 2026, the game's ten year anniversary, Murray said that players had visited less than 1% of the planets in the game.
- The player can upgrade, change, repair, and refuel the ship, allowing them to travel around the planet, between other planets or in open space inside the local planetary system.
- The player may also buy additional slots for his starship or use storage augmentations.
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