Technology tree

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The technology tree allows the player to spend collected science points to unlock new, bigger and better parts for vehicle construction. The tree comprises several research nodes, each with its own science point cost and a list of parts that are made available when the node is activated. Activating a node requires spending the science point cost, and doing so makes its parts immediately available for use and, in many cases, reveals additional nodes of a higher technology level. The tree is accessible via the Research and Development Facility at Kerbal Space Center and is only available for use in Career Mode. To unlock the entirety of the technology tree in 0.22[outdated] 10738 Science is required.

Use

Precision Engineering is an example of a research node with prerequisites. It requires either Advanced Flight Control or Electrics be activated before becoming available.

The technology tree is displayed as a horizontal branching tree structure, with low tech research nodes on the left and higher tech nodes on the right. The root node of the technology tree, Start, is on the leftmost side of the tree and is active by default in all new Career Mode games.

By conducting missions and collecting science, the player may spend their science points on available research nodes. Only nodes that have had their dependencies activated are displayed on the technology tree. As the player activates more nodes, higher tech nodes will become available until the eighth tier of the tree is reached.

Most research nodes have dependencies upon earlier, lower technology nodes. For example, the General Rocketry node requires that the Basic Rocketry node be activated before the player may spend 20 science points to unlock its parts. Some nodes have multiple dependencies that require several nodes be activated before they become available. There are also research nodes that have multiple dependencies but only require one of them to be activated prior to becoming available.

Research nodes

Icon Tree level Science required Node name Required node(s) Prerequisite for Parts list
Start.png
1 0 Start None
  • Basic Rocketry
Basic rocketry.png
2 5 Basic Rocketry Start
  • General Rocketry
  • Stability
  • Survivability
General rocketry.png
3 20 General Rocketry Basic Rocketry
  • Advanced Rocketry
  • General Construction[Note 1]
Stability.png
3 18 Stability Basic Rocketry
Survivability.png
3 15 Survivability Basic Rocketry
Advanced rocketry.png
4 45 Advanced Rocketry General Rocketry
General construction.png
4 45 General Construction
  • General Rocketry
  • Stability
Flight control.png
4 45 Flight Control
  • Stability
  • Survivability
Science tech.png
4 45 Science Tech Survivability
  • Electrics[Note 1]
  • Space Exploration
  • Landing
5 90 Heavy Rocketry Advanced Rocketry
  • Heavier Rocketry
Fuel systems.png
5 90 Fuel Systems
  • Advanced Rocketry
  • General Construction
  • Heavier Rocketry
  • Specialized Control
5 90 Advanced Construction General Construction
  • Specialized Control
  • Specialized Construction
Tech tree aerodynamics.png
5 90 Aerodynamics
  • General Construction
  • Flight Control
  • Supersonic Flight
Tech tree advanced flight control.png
5 90 Advanced Flight Control Flight Control
  • High Altitude Flight
  • Precision Engineering[Note 1]
Tech tree electrics.png
5 90 Electrics
  • Flight Control
  • Science Tech
Space exploration.png
5 90 Space Exploration Science Tech
Landing.png
5 90 Landing Science Tech
  • Advanced Landing
Heavier rocketry.png
6 160 Heavier Rocketry
  • Heavy Rocketry
  • Fuel Systems
Specialized control.png
6 160 Specialized Control
  • Fuel Systems
  • Advanced Construction
  • Nuclear Propulsion[Note 1]
  • Large Control
Specialized construction.png
6 160 Specialized Construction Advanced Construction
  • Advanced MetalWorks
Supersonic flight.png
6 160 Supersonic Flight  ???
  • Advanced Aerodynamics
  • High Altitude Flight[Note 1]
Precision engineering.png
6 160 Precision Engineering
  • Advanced Flight Control
  • Electrics
Advanced electrics.png
6 160 Advanced Electrics Electrics
  • Ion Propulsion[Note 1]
  • Large Electrics
    Electronics
Advanced exploration.png
6 160 Advanced Exploration
  • Electrics
  • Space Exploration
Advanced landing.png
6 160 Advanced Landing Landing
Tech tree nuclear propulsion.png
7 300 Nuclear Propulsion
  • Heavier Rocketry
  • Specialized Control
N/A
Tech tree large control.png
7 300 Large Control Specialized Control
Advanced metalworks.png
7 300 Advanced MetalWorks Specialized Construction
Advanced aerodynamics.png
7 300 Advanced Aerodynamics  ???
High altitude flight.png
7 300 High Altitude Flight  ???
Unmanned tech.png
7 300 Unmanned Tech Precision Engineering
  • Advanced Unmanned Tech
  • Large Probes[Note 1]
Ion propulsion.png
7 300 Ion Propulsion
  • Precision Engineering
  • Advanced Electrics
N/A
Large electrics.png
7 300 Large Electrics Advanced Electrics
Electronics.png
7 300 Electronics Advanced Electrics
Field science.png
7 300 Field Science
  • Advanced Exploration
  • Advanced Landing
  • Advanced Science Tech[Note 1]
  • Advanced Motors
Tech tree very heavy rocketry.png
8 550 Very Heavy Rocketry
  • Heavier Rocketry
  • Large Control
N/A
Meta-materials.png
8 550 Meta-Materials
  • Large Control
  • Advanced MetalWorks
N/A
Composites.png
8 550 Composites Advanced MetalWorks N/A
Heavy aerodynamics.png
8 550 Heavy Aerodynamics  ??? N/A
Hypersonic flight.png
8 550 Hypersonic Flight  ??? N/A
Advanced unmanned tech.png
8 550 Advanced Unmanned Tech Unmanned Tech N/A
Large probes.png
8 550 Large Probes Large Electrics N/A
Specialized electrics.png
8 550 Specialized Electrics
  • Large Electrics
  • Electronics
N/A
Advanced science tech.png
8 550 Advanced Science Tech
  • Electronics
  • Field Science
N/A
Advanced motors.png
8 550 Advanced Motors Field Science N/A
  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 1.25 1.26 1.27 1.28 1.29 1.30 1.31 1.32 1.33 1.34 This research has multiple other requirements