Hardspace: Shipbreaker

Hardspace: Shipbreaker

35 ratings
Perfect Atlas/Quasar Salvaging - Every Time!
By Wiawyr
A relaxed and risk-free method to salvage Quasar thrusters off Atlas ships.
   
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Introduction
The Atlas ships all have varying numbers of Quasar thrusters. These thrusters are often a headache for people, potentially resulting in various damages to the thrusters or the salvager themselves. And if you separate them from the rest of the ship before flipping the fuel shut-off switch, there's a crushing hazard as well; many dead Spares have met their ends in such an undignified and frustrating manner. Even for very experienced players, there's a bit of risk and urgency to fly through the flames if there aren't enough coolant canisters around.

I'd like to share with you the perfect technique! Just be sure to mute Lou.
The perfect Quasar salvage technique
First of course you remove the panels, cut the outer cut points, and grapple the nozzle into the barge. After that, you're left facing the back of the thruster, four fuel-pipe cut points, and a random number of coolant canisters.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2899347842
At this point, attach a tether from the back of the thruster all the way to the back of the salvage bay. The mass of the ship will hold it in place for now, and the tether will safely remove the thruster after it has been cut loose.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2899348098
Now you're ready to use the coolant canisters. Previously I thought that positioning one right in front of the fuel-pipe cut point was clever, as the flames would destroy the canister, releasing the coolant which would then put out the flames. The problem with this was that it required precise positioning and one coolant canister per fuel-pipe, and you never have enough to use four coolant canisters on every thruster. You'd still be left with some fuel-pipes on fire.

But this is the technique I'd like to share. Rather than carefully positioning one coolant canister at each cut point, you can be a bit bolder. When you grapple the coolant canister off the thruster casing, you're going to want to hit it against something lightly; not hard enough to destroy it, but just enough to cause it to start leaking coolant while you still have it grappled. While you're still grappling it, move the leaking canister right next to a fuel-pipe cut point, and give it about a second to freeze the first segment of the pipe and the cut point. Using the same leaking canister, repeat this with the three other fuel-pipes and their cut points.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2899351384
You'll end up with all four cut points safely frozen ahead of time. The thruster will probably freeze too, but that's fine. While they're frozen, use the laser cutter to carefully melt all four cut points. You'll see a brief flame effect that quickly stops, and Control will tell you there's fuel instability like normal, but there won't be any fire.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2899351757
When the last one is cut, the thruster will be pulled out of the opening by the tether on the back wall, and you can safely enter the thruster casing to pull the fuel shut-off switch and crack the casing in half.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2899346457
Conclusion
I hope that this technique will help new and old players alike to safely overcome Quazar thrusters. Be sure not to cut the thruster casing off the rest of the ship before pulling the fuel shut-off switch, and you'll have a 100% safety and success rate! You'll also be able to enjoy a more relaxed salvaging job, without needing to fly through burning fuel.
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2899351590
Alright alright, that's enough loafing. Get back to it, cutter! And you, "Hal"! Stop abusing power for your petty hatreds and bigotry!
9 Comments
deltahazer 22 May @ 10:44am 
Just be careful not to lose/break your grip on the coolant canister once you've popped it. ;) I accidentally broke my hold once (grapple beam used a wonky angle and stayed red for too long) and the cockamamie thing ping-ponged inside the thruster casing for a few seconds, rocketed straight at me, then made another radical direction change....

By smashing my faceplate to bits. :steamsad:
GimmeDatDonut 10 Apr, 2024 @ 11:40am 
You can easily avoid getting crushed by using your hands to hold on to the thruster's inner walls while you're pulling the fuel release valve. That way, you move along with one of the halves of the thruster, and there's no danger of crushing damage.
Malinko 28 Aug, 2023 @ 6:45pm 
My biggest problem with Quasar thrusters is getting crushed after pulling the lever because the halves violently split. I have tried tethering both sides of the thruster, didnt't matter. Any ideas?
froggx 29 Mar, 2023 @ 6:22pm 
this is a bit rough before coolant unlocks but super helpful afterwards :steamthumbsup:
Finvaara 14 Jan, 2023 @ 9:35pm 
First time I encountered these was before Coolant unlocked. I was a very sad, and a bit crispy.
Wiawyr  [author] 19 Dec, 2022 @ 4:17pm 
You're very welcome!
Tricontinental 19 Dec, 2022 @ 3:16pm 
Good guide--thanks for the tips!
Wiawyr  [author] 15 Dec, 2022 @ 12:52pm 
You might be able to pull off a second set of fuel-pipes before the first fuel-pipes thaw out, but more than that is iffy. You can collect leaking canisters by reeling them in and hitting F as soon as you release the grapple, so you're still able to get the three hundred credits from every coolant container that spawned.
ShadowFox 15 Dec, 2022 @ 11:57am 
thats a nice tip... i never thought of using the coolant in any way. Quick question tough: how long do the parts stay frozen? can i theoretically use one canister for multiple thrusters or am i going to run out of time with the first fuel pipes thawing again?