Technology tree

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The entire tree as of 0.24.2

The Technology tree allows the player to unlock more advanced parts for constructing variously lethal craft. The tree is structured as a series of nodes, each containing a set of parts. Previously collected Science points have to be spent to research each node before its parts can be used in the VAB and SPH. Each node has a prerequisite node or nodes which must be unlocked before it can be researched. Unlocking the entire tree requires 10098[outdated] Science.

The tree is accessible via the Kerbal Space Center Research and Development Facility's “Technology” tab. As part of the Science system, the Technology tree is not available in Sandbox Mode; instead all parts are automatically unlocked.

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
    or
  • Stability
Flight control.png
4 45 Flight Control
  • Stability
    or
  • Survivability
Science tech.png
4 45 Science Tech Survivability
  • Electrics[Note 1]
  • Space Exploration
  • Landing
Tech tree heavy rocketry.png
5 90 Heavy Rocketry Advanced Rocketry
Fuel systems.png
5 90 Fuel Systems
  • Advanced Rocketry
    or
  • General Construction
Advanced construction.png
5 90 Advanced Construction General Construction
Tech tree aerodynamics.png
5 90 Aerodynamics
  • General Construction
    or
  • Flight Control
Tech tree advanced flight control.png
5 90 Advanced Flight Control Flight Control
Tech tree electrics.png
5 90 Electrics
  • Flight Control
    or
  • 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
    or
  • Fuel Systems
Specialized construction.png
6 160 Specialized Construction
  • Fuel Systems
    or
  • Advanced Construction
Actuators.png
6 160 Actuators Advanced Construction
Supersonic flight.png
6 160 Supersonic Flight
  • Advanced Construction
    or
  • Aerodynamics
Specialized control.png
6 160 Specialized Control
  • Aerodynamics
    or
  • Advanced Flight Control
  • High Altitude Flight[Note 1]
  • Large Control
Precision engineering.png
6 160 Precision Engineering
  • Advanced Flight Control
    or
  • Electrics
Advanced electrics.png
6 160 Advanced Electrics Electrics
  • Ion Propulsion[Note 1]
  • Large Electrics
  • Electronics
Advanced exploration.png
6 160 Advanced Exploration
  • Electrics
    or
  • Space Exploration
Advanced landing.png
6 160 Advanced Landing Landing
Tech tree nuclear propulsion.png
7 300 Nuclear Propulsion
  • Heavier Rocketry
    and
  • Specialized Construction
Advanced metalworks.png
7 300 Advanced MetalWorks
  • Specialized Construction
    or
  • Actuators
Composites.png
7 300 Composites Actuators
Advanced aerodynamics.png
7 300 Advanced Aerodynamics
  • Actuators
    or
  • Supersonic Flight
High altitude flight.png
7 300 High Altitude Flight
  • Supersonic Flight
    or
  • Specialized Control
Tech tree large control.png
7 300 Large Control Specialized Control
Unmanned tech.png
7 300 Unmanned Tech Precision Engineering
Ion propulsion.png
7 300 Ion Propulsion
  • Precision Engineering
    and
  • 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
    or
  • Advanced Landing
  • Advanced Science Tech[Note 1]
  • Advanced Motors
Tech tree very heavy rocketry.png
8 550 Very Heavy Rocketry
  • Heavier Rocketry
    or
  • Nuclear Propulsion
N/A
Meta-materials.png
8 550 Meta-Materials
  • Advanced MetalWorks
    or
  • Composites
N/A
Heavy aerodynamics.png
8 550 Heavy Aerodynamics
  • Composites
    or
  • Advanced Aerodynamics
N/A
Hypersonic flight.png
8 550 Hypersonic Flight
  • Advanced Aerodynamics
    or
  • High Altitude Flight
N/A
Advanced unmanned tech.png
8 550 Advanced Unmanned Tech
  • Large Control
    or
  • Unmanned Tech
N/A
Specialized electrics.png
8 550 Specialized Electrics
  • Large Electrics
    or
  • Electronics
N/A
Advanced science tech.png
8 550 Advanced Science Tech
  • Electronics
    or
  • 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 1.35 1.36 1.37 1.38 1.39 1.40 1.41 1.42 1.43 1.44 1.45 1.46 1.47 This research has multiple other requirements