Why launch a rocket without a satellite?

[SilentLight]

Hello. I searched online and forums and didn't see this addressed:

Out of curiosity why would you want to launch a rocket without a satellite, in effect throwing out 1000 space science packs?

Curious why the option to launch one without the satellite even exists as opposed to by design just forcing the player to have a satellite as yet one more of the requirements to launch a rocket?

Thanks in advance for any info - was just curious as if there's a reason to do so that I was unaware of.

[Serenity]

There is an achievement if you launch a rocket with a fish in it

You can also launch yourself into space:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGr9olVIasU

Mods can also make use of alternative cargo:
https://mods.factorio.com/mods/Klonan/MIRV
https://mods.factorio.com/mods/Superche ... n%20Cannon

[SilentLight]

Ah ok - figured there had to be a reason. Thank you.

[ickputzdirwech]

Maybe you should mark the first part of your comment as a spoiler. Nothing wrong answering the question, but it's a hidden feature on purpose after all.

There is an achievement if you launch a rocket with a fish in it

You can also launch yourself into space:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGr9olVIasU

Mods can also make use of alternative cargo:
https://mods.factorio.com/mods/Klonan/MIRV
https://mods.factorio.com/mods/Superche ... n%20Cannon

You can also win the game by launching just an empty rocket. This is (as far as I know) a deliberate design choice since you don't need any military science to achieve that and therefore you don't end up with a lot of stuff you don't need when playing without biters.

[conn11]

Also:

By placing a vehicle into the rocket, then entering it, it’s somewhat possible to launch yourself into space

As an example shown here (Cave: Spoiler!)

[Ranger_Aurelien]

There is also the secret "

So Long and Thanks for all the Fish

" achievement...

https://wiki.factorio.com/Achievements

[SyncViews]

Curious why the option to launch one without the satellite even exists as opposed to by design just forcing the player to have a satellite as yet one more of the requirements to launch a rocket?

It counts as finishing the game for there is no spoon etc. In older versions true I think a completely empty rocket made a lot less sense (alternate cargo is not the same!).

I actually just did it trying to get lazy bastard at same time on a default map. It took me a lot of time after to get the 2,000 each pack space science research.

Although I guess if the game didn't allow it would have restarted and tried harder.

[Ranger_Aurelien]

It counts as finishing the game for there is no spoon etc. In older versions true I think a completely empty rocket made a lot less sense (alternate cargo is not the same!).

The basic game "win" required a satellite launch until 17.0 :

https://wiki.factorio.com/Version_history/0.17.0#0.17.0

"The game is won by launching a rocket, the Satellite is only for getting Space science packs."

[Premu]

You could also put some junk into the rocket as an expensive way to get rid of it.

[Koub]

You have to test your rocket first : quite often, the first rocket experiences rapid unexpected disassembly (KSP player here), you wouldn't want your payload to be vaporized the same way

[jamiechi1]

I think the achievment should require exactly 42 fish.