Atmospheric Thruster
- This article is about the 1x1x3 block. For all types of atmospheric thrusters, see Atmospheric Thrusters.
| Atmospheric Thruster | |
|---|---|
| |
| Function: | Atmospheric thrusters can only function in planetary atmospheres. ... |
| DLC? | Vanilla |
| Fits small grid | |
| Mass: | 699 kg |
| Hitpoints: | 1770 |
| Power: | -0.600 MW |
| Force: | 96000 N |
| PCU: | 15 |
| Size: | 1x1x3 |
| Time to Build: | 10 sec |
| Fits large grid | |
| Mass: | 4000 kg |
| Hitpoints: | 10180 |
| Power: | -2.4 MW |
| Force: | 648000 N |
| PCU: | 15 |
| Size: | 1x1x3 |
| Time to Build: | 40 sec |
| Data Controls: | [purge] (?)) |
Atmospheric Thrusters are Thrusters that operate only on planets with atmospheres.
The DLC variants, 
Sci-Fi Atmospheric Thruster and 
Sci-Fi Large Atmospheric Thruster, have the same usage, properties, and recipes as the standard atmospheric thrusters. You can only build them if you have purchased the Sparks of the Future Pack.
Usage
Atmospheric thrusters can be used on all planets with thick enough atmospheres. On planets, make your strongest atmo thrusters the ventral thrusters, they point downwards to counter gravity. If you choose to include them on a shuttle, switch them off when you reach space to save power.
Atmospheric thrusters are the most efficient source of thrust in an atmosphere, better than hydrogen thrusters. Another advantage is their low cost. They do not require expensive 
Thruster Components, and you can build their components with basic resources found on planets. They do not use fuel and require only Power to operate.
Their main disadvantage is the futility of using them in space, on moons, and asteroids. While transitioning to space, they slowly lose all thrust. At sea level, the efficiency of a small-grid small atmo thruster is ~90% (~88 kN) and it decreases gradually to 0% = 0kN as you fly higher and leave the atmosphere.
Gallery
You recognise Atmospheric Thrusters by their white flame on the backside and turbine on the front side.
A planetary shuttle using Atmospheric Thrusters.
Atmospheric Thrusters cause damage to blocks exposed their exhaust, do not place blocks right behind them.
DLC Sci-Fi variant
DLC Sci-Fi variant large
Construction
If you have Progression on, you must build a cockpit or Remote Control first to unlock atmospheric thrusters. The blocks only attach to other blocks on the four sides of the end that has the turbine. The exhaust coming from the thruster end damages blocks, so keep these ends clear. Usually you need thrust in six directions, but on planets with enough pull, you can risk skipping down thrust and letting gravity do the work. This saves you one set of rarely used thrusters, but forces you to keep the ship level at all times to componsate. The Flat Atmospheric Thruster and Flat Atmospheric Thruster D Shape are shape variants of the Atmospheric Thruster with the same functionality.
Recipe
| Atmospheric Thruster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Component | Large Ship/Station Required | Large Ship/Station Optional | Small Ship Required | Small Ship Optional |
 Steel Plate | 15 | 20 | 2 | 1 |
 Motor | 110 | — | 18 | — |
 Metal Grid | 10 | — | 1 | — |
 Large Steel Tube | 8 | — | 1 | — |
 Construction Comp. | 30 | 20 | 20 | 2 |
Types of Manoeuvring Blocks
Ion Thrusters
Hydrogen Thrusters- Atmospheric Thrusters (this page)
Jump Drive
