Orbitals (CivBE)

Civilization: Beyond Earth
List of orbital units

An orbital unit prepared to launch from a city

Orbitals, also known as satellites, are a new type of unit in Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth that are launched from cities and operate on their own layer of the map. Orbital units may provide bonuses to the tiles below them, manipulate miasma, perform ranged attacks, or even transport units across the map.

Orbital units usually are built in cities, but they occasionally can found by Explorers within resource pods. Most orbital units require Petroleum to build.

An orbital unit must be launched into the orbital layer before it takes effect. With the notable exception of the Rocktopus, orbital units cannot be moved once launched.

Orbital Coverage

Orbital coverage is the area in which a player is able to launch satellites. Orbital units built in a particular city may be placed anywhere a player has orbital coverage, even if it is halfway across the map. Orbital units cannot be placed in an area that overlaps the radius of an existing orbital unit. The one exception to this rule is the Abyssal Mirror. This wonder allows orbital units launched from city in which it is constructed to overlap the coverage area of other Orbital Units by 1 tile.

Each city has a base Orbital Coverage range of 4 hexes. Several buildings, wonders and personality traits can increase this range.

• The Launch Complex and Neoplanetarium buildings increase orbital coverage by 3 each.
• The Pan-Spectral Observatory increases orbital coverage by 2.
• The Stellar Codex wonder increases Orbital Coverage by 8.
• Quest options that increase orbital coverage:
  • +2 with Field Reactor
  • +1 with Launch Complex
  • +2 with Neoplanetarium
  • +1 with Repair Facility
  • +2 with Observatory
• The Aspirational personality trait increases all city orbital coverage by 1, 2, or 3 depending on the tier. AI players with this trait will respect civilizations with greater orbital coverage.

In the Rising Tide expansion, orbital coverage can be found outside a city's radius. Players gain orbital coverage around Firaxite deposits - even those that are covered by Alien Nests - when they reach a  Supremacy level of 5. The Comm Relay satellite expands orbital coverage by 5. Using this satellite allows players to leapfrog satellites across the map. When players purchase the Orbital Cooperation trade agreement from other civilizations, they gain orbital coverage around the stations of the map.

Attack bonuses under orbital coverage

• The Tier 4 Patrol Boats, Cannonade, Argo, Baron and the Tier 4 Submarines, Eradicators have a perk choice that increases +20% Combat Strength in friendly orbital coverage
• The Tier 2 Autosled, Prime Autosled has a perk choice that increases +30% Combat Strength in friendly orbital coverage.

Players who chose the integrated personality trait gain Combat Strength and Ranged Strength when under friendly Orbital coverage.

De-orbiting

Orbital units can be de-orbited (destroyed) in a few ways:

• Upon reaching the end of its duration, an orbital unit will de-orbit automatically.
• Orbital units may be shot down by cities, and certain units (see below).
• Orbital units may be manually de-orbited.

Duration

The duration of an orbital unit can range from 10 turns to 60. When the duration of any orbital unit except a Rocktopus ends, it crashes into the planet's surface leaving a Crashed Satellite. An Explorer can conduct an expedition on the wreck for bonuses.

The Spacefaring personality trait increases the duration of orbital units by 20/30/40%. The Quantum Computer wonder increases a unit's duration by 50% while also providing free maintenance for all orbital units. In vanilla Beyond Earth, the Slavic Federation's orbital units receive a 50% duration bonus.

Anti-Orbital Strikes

Orbital units can be shot down by cities and artillery units. Tier 1 versions of these units can shoot units within a 1-hex radius. Tier 2 versions can shoot 2 hexes away.

The following units can use the anti-orbital strike ability:

• Missile Rover
• SABR
• LEV Tank
• Rocktopus

Cities have a default anti-orbital radius of 2 hexes. The following buildings and agreements that increase orbital strike range:

• Panopticon - Increases Orbital Strike Range by 5.
• Rocket Battery - Increases orbital strike range by 3, with a quest that can increase it by 1 more.
• The Orbital Defense Net trade agreement increases city Anti-Orbital Strike Range.

Orbital units that are launched within the orbital strike range of enemy cities or units are usually shot down. However, orbital units usually are allowed to use their abilities the same turn they are launched. This allows players to launch a Phasal Transporter, beam in 6 hexes worth of units deep into enemy territory or launch a Planet Carver to add one more attack to an offensive before the orbital unit is shot down.

Rocktopus

The Rocktopus, a  Harmony unique unit, is an orbital unit with special mechanics. The option to de-orbit manually is offered as a perk after Level 16  Harmony is reached.

Slavic Federation

The Slavic Federation is a sponsor that specializes in orbital units.

Rising Tide

Cosmonaut Legacy

Level	Bonus
Level 1	All Orbital Units Strategic Resource requirements reduced by 1. Start with 4 Petroleum, Titanium, and Geothermal resources.
Level 2	Gain 2 Petroleum, Titanium, and Geothermal resources.
Level 3	All Orbital Units Strategic Resource requirements reduced by 2.

Base Beyond Earth

• Orbital units stay in orbit 50% longer
• +50% Petroleum resources

Additional Trade Agreements that affect orbitals

• Crash Program - Production cost for Orbital Units in your Capital reduced.
• Civilian Observatories - All active Orbital Units produce more Science.
• Reusable Vehicles - Each Orbital Unit launched reduces Production costs for future Orbitals.

List of orbital units

Main article: List of orbital units (CivBE)