- Space Station Designer - Visuals and polishing update - 16 September 2026
Dear Station Designers, At the end of July, we published Space Station Designer version 00.06.50, which included improved visuals, new gameplay features, and general improvements. We continue making progress towards the release date on November 18th, and today we're happy to share Space Station Designer version 00.07.00 with all of you. As always, you can find the full release notes in our public document here. VisualsIn the visuals department, we've made yet another pass across all scenes, which includes tweaks to the lighting, post-processing, camera positioning, animations, and materials. Please find some examples below that show these changes in the main space station screen, the Earth Facilities, and the Russian launch pad.GameplayIn terms of gameplay, we implemented a system that keeps track of a plethora of stats across various areas, including 'Finances', 'Astronauts', and the s…
- Space Station Designer - Dev Diary #16: Lunar Space Elevator: History & Physics - 20 August 2026
Welcome to the sixteenth Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'! Today, we're looking at the real-world science and history behind one of humanity's boldest concepts: the Space Elevator. What is a Space Elevator?A Quick History LessonThe space elevator isn't a modern science-fiction invention. Here’s how it started:We know Konstantin Tsiolkovsky as the Russian ‘father of rocketry’, because he figured out the ‘Rocket Equation’ way before modern rockets existed. It happened that he visited the newly constructed Eiffel Tower at the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition, where inventors and engineers showcased their latest designs. Konstantin Tsiolkovsky - Soviet postal stamp of 1986At 312 meters tall, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest man-made structure on Earth, an incredible feat for 1889! Before its construction, many engineers feared that a metal tower of that height would simply be snap…
- Space Station Designer - Visuals, gameplay, and polishing update - 30 July 2026
Dear Station Designers,Last month we unveiled Space Station Designer version 00.06.00, which included new gameplay features, improved visuals, and various QoL improvements. We made some good progress this past month across various areas, and today we're pleased to share Space Station Designer version 00.06.50 with all of you. If you're interested in the full list of changes and additions, please take a look at the release notes here. VisualsIn terms of visuals, we've replaced all the existing astronauts' portraits with a fresh new set of nearly 250 images. We are confident that this is a significant improvement that should make all astronaut management tasks more engaging. We've also improved the quality of the space station modules' and resupply spacecraft's materials, which combine nicely with the improved Earth material that we released in our previous update.GameplayOne of the coole…
- Space Station Designer - Release Date Announced - 23 July 2026
We’re thrilled to announce that Space Station Designer is coming on November 18th! This is the second large game from Polar Motion, the creators of Buzz Aldrin's Space Program Manager. The game is under heavy development, and there is a closed beta available for players who are interested in trying it out in its current state and giving us feedback.If this is your first time hearing about Space Station Designer, we recommend watching our new gameplay trailer below and checking out our previously published dev diaries, each covering different aspects of the game in detail. The release date was revealed for the first time yesterday during our Slitherine Next event.If you missed the livestream, you can catch up by watching the full recording using the link below. And don’t forget to wishlist the game
- Space Station Designer - Visuals, gameplay, and QoL update - 24 June 2026
Dear Station Designers,Back in late March we released Space Station Designer version 0.5.130, which featured dozens of improved gameplay mechanics, QoL additions, bug-fixes, and general improvements. After another three months of work, today we're unveiling Space Station Designer version 00.06.00. This update includes a combination of additions and improvements, including updated visuals, new gameplay mechanics, QoL additions, and bug-fixes. If you're interested in all the details, please take a look at the full release notes here.Also, in case you missed it, Space Station Designer was featured in the Slitherine: Next Checkpoint event back in early May. We talked at length about the game with Slitherine's Business Development Manager Alberto Casulini, including details about the main mechanics, what we're working on, sources of inspiration, and much more. You can still catch the recordi…
- Space Station Designer - Slitherine Next: Checkpoint - 5 May 2026
We had a great chat yesterday with Ignacio, Lead Developer at Polar Motion, diving into new insights and updates as the team prepares the game for release.If you missed it, don't worry: you can now watch the full livestream here: As development progresses, we’d love to hear your feedback—share your thoughts, questions, and curiosities with the community on Discord.And don’t forget to wishlist the game and stay tuned for upcoming updates!
- Space Station Designer - Gameplay Fine-Tuning & QoL Update - 24 March 2026
Dear Station Designers,Back in late November we released Space Station Designer version 0.5.90, which focused exclusively on polishing the overall game experience. After nearly four months of work, today we're unveiling Space Station Designer version 0.5.130, featuring dozens of improved gameplay mechanics, QoL additions, bug-fixes, and general improvements. If you're interested in the details, you can find the full release notes here. Astronauts' Special Skills bonusesThe Astronauts' Special Skills have an impact across a wide range of areas, including Commercial Services engagements, space station modules repairs, enabling bonuses in the Earth Facilities, and more. As part of this new update, we've added the following rules:Having at least one astronauts with the 'Guidance, Navigation & Control' special skill aboard the station improves the 'attitude control' score, lowers the chances…
- Dev Diary #15: The influences behind Space Station Designer - Part II - 11 December 2025
Welcome to the fifteenth Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the previous entry (Dev Diary #14), we discussed some of the influences behind the game, including NASA's Space Station Freedom and various technical and history books we used for reference. In this entry, we'll expand on some of the games that inspired the design and aesthetics behind 'Space Station Designer'.Project Space Station (HESware, 1985)'Project Space Station' front cover of the Commodore 64 version (source: MobyGames).'Project Space Station' is a simulation game originally released for the Commodore 64 back in 1985. It puts the player in charge of NASA, and the main goal is building a functional space station using a fleet of space shuttles while keeping a positive cash flow.'Project Space Station' intro screen (source: MobyGames). The game was very advanced for its time in terms of UI/UX design, and fea…
- Space Station Designer | Polishing Update - 20 November 2025
Dear Station Designers,Back in early September we released 'Space Station Designer' version 0.5.72, which included a series of improvements and a whole revised set of Interactive Tutorials. Today we're happy to unveil 'Space Station Designer' version 0.5.90, which is exclusively focused on polishing the overall game experience. Please read on to learn about the main highlights. You can find full detailed release notes here if you're interested in the details. Improved Visuals, Music, and SFXWe went through every screen in the game and added a coat of paint by including a series of animated backgrounds, which add a touch of personality compared to the dark backgrounds used in previous versions.In addition to this, we expanded the game's OST by including a range of new tracks, and added sound effects across the whole user interface. Unfortunately, we cannot provide any screenshots for the…
- Dev Diary #14 - The influences behind Space Station Designer - Part I - 23 October 2025
Welcome to the fourteenth Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the two previous entries (Dev Diary #12 and Dev Diary #13), we went deep into the details of the Lunar Orbit station. In this entry and the next, we'll take a small break from covering game mechanics and discuss some of the influences behind Space Station Designer. The initial idea and its evolutionWhen we set out to create 'Space Station Designer' (or 'Space Station Manager', as it was originally called), we had a few guiding principles that we adhered to:The game should evoke the sense of wonder and optimism behind the American Space Program from the early 1980s.The game should be based on an alternate reality where the designs of 'Space Station Freedom' (more on this later) became a reality, and humans had a permanent and productive presence in space.The game should be grounded on reality, with no sci-fi or fan…
- Dev Diary #13 - The Lunar Orbit Station - Part II - 9 September 2025
Welcome to the thirteenth Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the previous entry, we covered some of the details behind the Lunar Orbit station, including information about its location at the Earth-Moon Lagrange Point (L1), its associated orbit control and attitude control rules, and the type of resupply spacecraft available. In this second entry, we'll wrap up the overview of this station by delving into some other aspects, including manufacturing, space tourism, research and Industrial R&D, and the connection between the station and the Lunar Space Elevator Megaproject. Manufacturing of Refined Helium-3The Lunar Orbit station has specialized manufacturing modules that can produce 'Refined Helium-3' or 'He-3', which is a rare, light, non-radioactive isotope of helium that carries the solar wind. Since the Moon has no atmosphere and a very weak magnetic field, the constant…
- New Update - Space Station Designer v0.5.72 - 3 September 2025
At the end of June we published 'Space Station Designer' version 0.5.60. We have continued making progress since then, and today we're proud to share 'Space Station Designer' version 0.5.72 with all of you. This new version comes with a lot of cool stuff that we're sure you'll enjoy. As usual, this post will cover the main highlights. If you're interested in the full overview, you can always go through our detailed release notes here.Graphics ImprovementsWe continue finding ways to revamp the overall quality of the visuals. As part of this update, we've tweaked the lighting, improved the atmospheric halo around the Earth, tweaked the camera post-processing effects, and completely revamped the details of the Moon.In parallel, we continue working on an experimental branch featuring various techniques that we are planning to include in a future update. Once this branch is complete, we'll b…
- Dev Diary #12 - The Lunar Orbit Station - Part I - 14 August 2025
Welcome to the twelfth Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. The last two entries covered the two stations available in higher Earth orbits: the GSO station and the L2 station. In this new entry, we're going to start another two-part series with the goal of analyzing the details behind the Lunar Orbit station, including what makes it unique, and how it contributes to the development of the Lunar Space Elevator Megaproject. The Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 1 (L1)The Lunar Orbit station is located in the Earth-Moon Lagrange Point 1, also known as L1. This point is a location in space situated between the Earth and the Moon where the gravitational forces of both celestial bodies balance out. The L1 point lies approximately 85% of the distance from Earth to the Moon, making it roughly 326,400 km from the Earth's center (the average distance between the Earth and the Moon is 384,400 km).…
- Dev Diary #11 - Stations in Higher Earth Orbits - Part II - 24 July 2025
Welcome to the eleventh Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the previous entry, we started a two-part series that covers the two stations available in higher Earth orbits. The previous entry discussed the details behind the station in Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO). In this entry, we'll analyse the station in the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2) and what makes it unique.The Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2) OrbitThe Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2) is a location in space 1.5 million km behind Earth, as viewed from the Sun. It's a gravitationally stable point where the combined gravitational forces of the Sun and Earth balance the centrifugal force, which allows the station to orbit the Sun in sync with Earth with minimal fuel consumption. Because of this, L2 is an ideal location for space observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope, which require a stable, unobstructed view of…
- Dev Diary #10 - Stations in Higher Earth Orbits - Part I - 25 June 2025
Welcome to the tenth Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the previous entry, we wrapped up a seven-part series that covered the various mechanics available in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) station. Beyond LEO, Space Station Designer allows us to establish stations in higher orbits, and even around the Moon. In this article, we'll cover the basics behind the Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) station. The Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO)A Geosynchronous Orbit is a special type of orbit with an orbital period that matches the Earth's rotation. In Space Station Designer, the GSO station is in a circular Geosynchronous Orbit, with a constant altitude of 35,786 km. In practice, this means that the station is always positioned above the same point on Earth.The relationships among the Earth, the Moon, the LEO station, and the GSO station are shown in the Global Screen (note that the sizes and distan…
- New Update - Space Station Designer v. 0.5.60 - 20 June 2025
A few months ago we published 'Space Station Designer' version 0.5.47, which included the first implementation of the 'Lunar Space Elevator' megaproject, along with a series of Quality of Life (QoL) improvements, bug fixes, and new content. We've been very hard at work since then, and today we're proud to unveil 'Space Station Designer' version 0.5.60, which is our largest update to date in terms of changes and additions. This post will cover the main highlights. If you're interested in the full overview, you can find our detailed release notes here. Engine Upgrade & Improved GraphicsAs part of this update, we upgraded 'Space Station Designer' from Unity 2022.3 to Unity 6, and we spent a lot of time improving the overall quality of our graphics, including new high-resolution models of the Earth and the Moon and a Sun illuminating the scene. Moreover, we have redone the 'Global Screen' s…
- Dev Diary #9 - The station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) - Part VII - 4 June 2025
Welcome to the ninth Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the previous entry, we covered two important revenue-generating mechanics: Modules Leasing, and Commercial Services. In this article, we'll cover two more mechanics related to the LEO Station: 'Earth Facilities' and 'Space Tourism'. Earth Facilities Behind every successful network of space stations, there's a large structure of facilities on the ground that provides the necessary support. In the early stages of the game (i.e., 'Phase I') there's an 'Earth Facilities' research technology, which enables a button in the Global Screen and allows us to construct a series of buildings that can help us optimize our operations. Note that the first time we access the Earth Facilities, there's only a handful of patches of land. After unlocking one of these patches and clicking on it, the game will present a series of buildings t…
- Dev Diary #8 - The station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) - Part VI - 21 May 2025
Welcome to the eight Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the previous article, we discussed the process for manufacturing commercial goods in microgravity and selling them on Earth. In this entry, we'll cover the basics of two more revenue-generating mechanics: Modules Leasing, and Commercial Services. Modules Leasing As our space stations evolve and get larger, we may find that we may have some spare capacity that we can temporarily lease to external entities so that they can make use of it. This functionality can be accessed by acquiring the 'Modules Leasing' research technology in the research tree, which has a dependency on 'Expansion in LEO'. Once the acquisition of 'Modules Leasing' is complete, a new button in the 'Revenue Generation Group' will become available. Initially, there's only one leasing slot available. Further slots can be unlocked via the 'Modules Leasing…
- Dev Diary #7 - The station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) - Part V - 30 April 2025
Welcome to the seventh Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the previous entry, we covered the details behind resupply spacecraft which, in addition to transporting astronauts, are used to keep stations operational and to transport the goods manufactured in orbit to Earth. In this article, we'll explain the basics behind two other mechanics: the manufacturing of Commercial Goods in a microgravity environment, and the process of selling these goods back on Earth. Manufacturing Commercial Goods in Microgravity Microgravity provides an excellent environment for producing elements to a level of quality that can be difficult, or even impossible, to replicate on Earth. 'Space Station Designer' features a manufacturing system that uses a technology similar to 3D printing and allows us to create exotic compounds we can sell as commercial goods in a dynamic market. The various types o…
- Dev Diary #6 - The station in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) - Part IV - 17 April 2025
Welcome to the sixth Dev Diary entry of 'Space Station Designer'. In the previous entry, we went deep into the various mechanics available for hiring and managing astronauts. In this post, we'll cover the mechanisms for requesting and dispatching resupply spacecraft. Requesting Resupply Spacecraft In order to keep our stations functional, we need to ensure that (1) there's a permanent presence of astronauts, (2) that these astronauts have enough supplies units available to perform their tasks, and (3) that there are enough raw materials available to keep a steady output of manufactured goods. To achieve this, there's a wide range of resupply spacecraft available, including options that can carry both cargo and crew, and cargo only. The toggle button to expand the 'Resupply Spacecraft' options can be found on the right-hand side area of the screen. This reveals three buttons. From left t…
