The 
Tier 2 Rocket is the second spacecraft in Ad Astra’s progression chain and the vehicle that takes you from the Moon to Mars. Building one requires 
Desh, a material that only generates on the Moon, so you need to complete at least one Tier 1 Rocket trip before you can start crafting.
The Tier 2 Rocket unlocks Mars and Mars Orbit alongside every destination the Tier 1 Rocket already reached. If you have not built and launched a Tier 1 Rocket yet, start with the 
Tier 1 Rocket article.
It covers 
Space Suits, 
Launch Pads, the 
Fuel system, and launch mechanics in full. This article focuses on what changes at Tier 2: the Desh material requirement, the Engine and Tank upgrade chain, and preparing for a Mars landing.
Crafting
You assemble the Tier 2 Rocket at the 
NASA Workbench using 14 components: 1 
Rocket Nose Cone, 6 
Desh Blocks, 4 
Rocket Fins, 2 
Desh Tanks, and 1 
Desh Engine.
The Rocket Nose Cone and Rocket Fins are the same parts used in the Tier 1 Rocket. The difference is that 
Steel Blocks, 
Steel Tanks, and the 
Steel Engine are replaced with their Desh equivalents.
Components
The Desh Engine and Desh Tank are not built from scratch. They upgrade the Steel versions you already know how to craft. The Desh Engine wraps 6 
Desh Plates around a Steel Engine with a 
Fan attached below.
The Desh Tank combines 4 Desh Plates with a Steel Tank and a 
Steel Rod. This upgrade pattern repeats at every tier in Ad Astra: each new engine and tank builds on top of the previous tier’s version.
Desh Ore generates on the Moon between Y -80 and Y 80. Mine 
Raw Desh, smelt it in a 
Furnace to get Desh Ingots, then compress the ingots into Desh Plates using the 
Compressor. Nine Desh Ingots craft into one Desh Block.
You need a total of 6 Desh Blocks plus enough Desh Plates for the Engine and Tank upgrades, so plan to mine a substantial amount during your Moon trip.
Fueling
The Tier 2 Rocket uses the same fuel system as the Tier 1 Rocket. It holds 3,000 mB of fluid. Regular Fuel costs the entire tank per launch (3 
buckets). Cryo Fuel costs only 1,000 mB per launch, giving you three flights from a single full tank.
Regular Fuel
Cryo Fuel
Launching
The launch process is identical to the Tier 1 Rocket. Place the rocket on a Launch Pad, load fuel, board it, and press Space to start the 10-second countdown. The rocket climbs to Y 600 where the Planets screen opens for destination selection.
After choosing Mars, you descend in a Lander and must hold Space to brake before impact. The Tier 1 Rocket article covers every step in detail, including Launch Pad placement, the Lander, and exhaust hazards.
The only mechanical difference is the explosion radius. If the Tier 2 Rocket collides with a block during ascent, it detonates with an 11-block blast radius compared to the Tier 1’s 9-block radius. Clear the space above your Launch Pad accordingly.
Essential Supplies
Mars has no breathable atmosphere, a surface temperature of -65 degrees Celsius, and 38% gravity. The standard Space Suit handles these conditions.
You do not need the 
Netherite Space Suit for Mars. The biggest risk on your first Mars trip is running out of fuel with no way home, since Mars has no renewable fuel source on the surface. Bring enough for a round trip.
Destinations
The Tier 2 Rocket can reach any planet or orbit with a tier requirement of 2 or lower. You keep access to everything the Tier 1 Rocket reached and gain Mars and Mars Orbit. Venus, Mercury, and Glacio remain locked until you build higher-tier rockets.
The table below compares all four rocket tiers. Each tier uses a material found on the previous tier’s destination planet, creating the progression chain that drives exploration in Ad Astra.
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Tier 4
Tips
Bring return fuel in the rocket’s cargo slots before you launch. Mars has no Oil Wells and no easy way to produce Fuel on the surface. If you land without return fuel and a spare Launch Pad, you are stranded until you find another way home.
Mine extra Desh on the Moon before heading to Mars. You need Desh for the rocket components, but having surplus Desh Ingots lets you craft spare parts and replacement tanks without making another Moon trip.
Keep your Steel Engine and Steel Tank production line active. Every tier upgrade wraps the previous tier’s engine and tank in new plates, so you always need the Steel base components as starting materials.
Mars has hostile mobs including Martian Raptors and Pygros. Build a sealed shelter immediately after landing before exploring. The low gravity (38%) means you jump higher and fall slower, which makes combat unpredictable until you adjust.
Start mining Ostrum on Mars as soon as you can. Ostrum is the Tier 3 material, and collecting it early means you can craft the 
Tier 3 Rocket back in the Overworld without a second Mars trip.
FAQ
No. Venus and Mercury are Tier 3 destinations and do not appear on the Planets screen when flying a Tier 2 Rocket. You need to mine Ostrum on Mars and craft the Tier 3 Rocket to reach those planets.
No. The standard Space Suit provides enough protection for Mars. The Netherite Space Suit is only required for Venus, where temperatures are extreme enough to damage you through the regular suit.
Desh Ore generates on the Moon between Y -80 and Y 80. Mine Raw Desh and smelt it in a Furnace to get Desh Ingots. Compress the ingots into Desh Plates using the Compressor, and craft nine ingots together for Desh Blocks.
Mars has no Oil Wells on the surface, so you cannot produce regular Fuel there. You must bring enough fuel for the return trip in your rocket’s cargo inventory. Pack 6 Fuel Buckets (or 2 
Cryo Fuel Buckets) total for a round trip.
Yes. After landing, Shift + Right-Click the Lander to retrieve your rocket. Place a Launch Pad on Mars, deploy the rocket, load fuel, and launch the same way you did from the Overworld. Earth appears as a destination on the Planets screen.
