Artificial Mass

Artificial Mass


Function:	Artificial mass or spaceballs enable grids to react to artificial g...
DLC?	Vanilla

Fits small grid
Mass:	906.4 kg
Hitpoints:	872
Power:	-0.025 MW
PCU:	25
Size:	1x1x1
Time to Build:	14 sec

Fits large grid
Mass:	9544.0 kg
Hitpoints:	14520
Power:	-0.6 MW
PCU:	25
Size:	1x1x1
Time to Build:	24 sec

Data Controls:	[purge] (?))

The Artificial Mass is a functional late-game block that is used in context with artificial gravity. Related blocks are Space Balls, Gravity Generator, and Spherical Gravity Generator.

Usage

When powered, it creates 50,000Kg of artificial mass in a single block.

You add Artificial Mass blocks to ships if you want the ship to be affected by artificial gravitational fields that it enters. In contrast to real-life physics, Artificial Gravity Generators are very selective and, by default, do not affect ships.

Depending on the field’s settings, a grid with Artificial Mass will be attracted or repelled. The strength of the effect directly depends on the number of Artificial Mass blocks built into the grid. However these blocks also increase the grid’s mass, power consumption, and inertia, and the grid requires additional thrust and power to escape the gravity field. You need to find the right balance between Artificial Mass blocks and Gravity Generators.

Civilian Use

Artificial Mass is also an important component of a Gravity Drive.

Combat Use

Large ships can use Gravity Generators with directed force vectors to launch powered Artificial Mass blocks as mass-producible projectiles. Blocks cause impact damage if they hit another grid, and can even be combined with a warhead to form an explosive torpedo. This use is an example of a Player Built Weapon (PBW). Similarly, incoming PBWs containing Artificial Mass blocks can be deflected by opposing gravity generator fields. This is the in-game way of building a force field (alternatives are force field mods).

Construction

The Artificial Mass blocks have a power requirement of 600 kW to be functional. Their most expensive components are Gravity Generator Components. They exist for small and large grid and are 1x1x1 blocks in size. They can be placed anywhere on the grid, but it’s best to put them symmetrically near the Center of Mass in order not to shift the center of mass.

Recipe

Artificial Mass
Component	Large Ship/Station Required	Large Ship/Station Optional	Small Ship Required	Small Ship Optional
Superconductor	20	—	2	—
Steel Plate	30	60	1	2
Gravity Comp.	9	—	1	—
Construction Comp.	30	—	2	—
Computer	20	—	2	—