Atmospherics is the heart of Stationeers — and the thing that kills most new players. This guide covers the fundamentals of building a sealed, breathable, survivable base: the gases you’ll deal with, sealing rooms, making breathable air, managing pressure and temperature, the core gear, and the common ways crews suffocate.
The gases in Stationeers
| Gas | Symbol | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen | O₂ | Breathing & fuel oxidiser (fire risk pure) |
| Nitrogen | N₂ | Inert filler for breathable mix |
| Carbon Dioxide | CO₂ | Exhaled waste — must be scrubbed |
| Volatiles | CH₄+ | Fuel for smelting, power, chemistry |
| Nitrous Oxide | N₂O | Powerful oxidiser; harmful to breathe |
| Pollutant | X | Toxic burn/processing byproduct |
| Water vapour | H₂O | Condenses; from combustion & ice |
Seal the room first
Atmosphere leaks through any gap. A breathable room needs fully sealed walls, floors and ceiling, plus an airlock — two doors with a buffer between them so you don’t vent the whole room every time you step outside. If pressure won’t hold when you fill the room, you have a leak somewhere — check walls, frames and any unfinished tiles.
What makes air breathable
Your crew needs oxygen at a survivable pressure (roughly 50–100 kPa of breathable mix, with at least ~16 kPa O₂) and a comfortable temperature. Too little pressure and they can’t breathe; pure oxygen is a fire and health risk, which is why most players run a 75/25 nitrogen/oxygen mix rather than pure O₂. You also have to remove the CO₂ your crew exhales, or it builds up and poisons them.
The core atmospherics gear
- Gas Sensor — reads pressure, temperature and gas ratios so you know what’s actually in a room.
- Active Vent — moves gas into or out of a room to hit a target pressure.
- Pressure Regulator / Back Pressure Regulator — hold a pipe or room at a set pressure.
- Filtration unit — separates unwanted gases (CO₂, pollutant, volatiles) from a mix using gas filters.
- Pipes & tanks — store and route gases around your base.
Manage temperature
Gas carries heat, and temperature is as deadly as pressure. On cold worlds you’ll heat incoming air; on hot worlds you’ll cool it with radiators and pipe-based heat exchangers. Wall heaters and the furnace help early; later, automate climate with an IC10 thermostat so a room holds its target temperature on its own.
Common ways crews die
- Opening a door to vacuum with no airlock — the room empties instantly.
- Running pure oxygen and starting a fire.
- Ignoring CO₂ buildup in a sealed room with no scrubbing.
- Letting temperature drift to a lethal high or low.
Frequently asked questions
What is breathable air in Stationeers?
Roughly a 75% nitrogen / 25% oxygen mix at a survivable pressure (about 50–100 kPa), with at least ~16 kPa of O₂ so you can remove your helmet without lung warnings. Pure oxygen technically breathes but is a fire and health hazard, so the nitrogen-diluted mix is standard.
How do I remove CO₂ from my base?
Run the room air through a filtration unit with a CO₂ filter, which pulls the carbon dioxide your crew exhales into a pipe or tank. Without scrubbing, CO₂ steadily builds in a sealed room and poisons everyone — it’s one of the most common silent killers.
Why won’t my room hold pressure?
There’s a leak — an unfinished wall, frame or floor tile, or a door without an airlock. Use a gas sensor to watch pressure: if it drops when you fill the room, walk the perimeter checking every wall and ceiling tile is fully built, and add an airlock so entering doesn’t vent the room.
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