The original speed that a ship travels. The speed and distance decides the travel time between planets. Ship speed is increased above base with every level of engine researched.
- Combustion Drive increases the speed of ships using a combustion engine by 10% of base for each level researched.
- Impulse Drive increases the speed of ships using impulse engines by 20% of base for each level researched.
- Hyperspace Drive increases the speed of ships using hyperspace engines by 30% of base for each level researched.
Ships by Base Speed[]
| Ship | Base Speed | Speed at Minimum Research Required | Engine Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Espionage Probe | 100,000,000 | 130,000,000 | Combustion Drive |
| Cruiser | 15,000 | 27,000 | Impulse Drive |
| Light Fighter | 12,500 | 13,750 | Combustion Drive |
| Pathfinder | 12,000 | 19,200 | Hyperspace Drive |
| Battle Ship | 10,000 | 22,000 | Hyperspace Drive |
| Battlecruiser | 10,000 | 25,000 | Hyperspace Drive |
| Heavy Fighter | 10,000 | 14,000 | Impulse Drive |
| Small Cargo* | 10,000 | 20,000 | Impulse Drive Level 5 |
| Large Cargo | 7,500 | 12,000 | Combustion Drive |
| Recycler**** | 6,000 | 33,000 | Hyperspace Drive Level 15 |
| Destroyer | 5,000 | 14,000 | Hyperspace Drive |
| Bomber** | 5,000 | 17,000 | Hyperspace Drive Level 8 |
| Small Cargo | 5,000 | 6,000 | Combustion Drive |
| Recycler*** | 4,000 | 17,600 | Impulse Drive Level 17 |
| Bomber | 4,000 | 8,800 | Impulse Drive |
| Colony Ship | 2,500 | 4,000 | Impulse Drive |
| Recycler | 2,000 | 3,200 | Combustion Drive |
| Death Star | 100 | 310 | Hyperspace Drive |
| Solar Satellite | 0 | None |
* Small Cargo Ships start out with a combustion engine. Once Level 5 Impulse Drive is researched, all Small Cargo Ships are automatically upgraded to Impulse engines and take advantage of the faster speed.
** Bombers start out with an impulse engine. Once Level 8 Hyperspace Drive is researched, all Bombers are automatically upgraded to Hyperspace Engines and take advantage of the faster speed.
*** Recyclers start out with an combustion engine. Once Level 17 Impulse Drive is researched, all Recyclers are automatically upgraded to Impulse Engines and take advantage of the faster speed.
****Once Level 15 Hyperspace Drive is researched, all Recyclers are automatically upgraded to Hyperspace Engines and take advantage of the faster speed.
Duration of Flight
is the flight time of the fleet in seconds, where
is the flight distance as calculated above and
is the speed of the slowest ship in the fleet. Divide the above with the speed factor you have chosen. Please note that due to rounding there might be a small discrepancy between
and "duration of flight" displayed.