The task assigned to the fleet. The number of missions that can be run at one time can be increased with Computer Technology research
Missions are assigned via the fleet view.
Possible mission types:
Expedition: to send a fleet to explore Outer Space.
Colonization: to send a colony ship to an empty planet and establish a colony.
Harvesting: to collect resources from a debris field using recyclers.
Transport: to send resources from one planet to another.
Deployment: to station the fleet at another planet.
Espionage: to spy another player's planet, only Espionage Probes can go on this mission.
ACS Defend: to send a fleet in orbit of a friendly planet a help defend it.
Attacking : to raid another player or to crash any fleet stationed at the target.
ACS Attack: to join a friendly fleet in an attack.
Moon Destruction: to send Deathstars to destroy a moon.
There is also an unused icon for a Collect mission in the game sprite.